“‘Stay the course’ is gone”

November 28, 2006

I’ll give you the quote; you guess the politician who said it.

“‘Stay the course’ is gone. We’re going to try and devise some new strategies, hopefully with the President’s concurrence,” the senator said. “Our soldiers, sailors and airmen should not be in there, risking their lives, losing their lives to stop a Civil War.”

A Michael Moore-loving, cut-and-run Defeatocrat, right? Try Sen. John Warner, Republican of Virginia, and the outgoing chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

I think it’s safe to say the administration is losing Warner quickly, and with him one of the more respected GOP voices on the military in the Senate. A month ago, Warner, upon returning from a trip to Iraq, said much of the country was taking “steps backwards” and his optimism for the future was on the wane. He opened the door a bit to supporting a troop withdrawal, saying, “I assure you, in two or three months, if this thing hasn’t come to fruition and if this level of violence is not under control and this government able to function, I think it’s a responsibility of our government internally to determine: Is there a change of course that we should take? And I wouldn’t take off the table any option at this time.”

But yesterday’s pronouncements were even stronger, characterizing Iraq as a “civil war,” which our troops should not be involved in. I was particularly struck by Warner saying that lawmakers will devise some new strategies for Iraq, “hopefully with the president’s concurrence.”

I don’t want to read too much into this, but it’s almost as if Warner was saying he’d like Bush’s input on new strategies — but the president’s participation is not exactly necessary.

So far, it seems the only news outlet to pick up on Warner’s comments is a local TV station in Charlottesville, Va. But given Warner’s stature and role in the Senate caucus, isn’t this a fairly big deal?

Reality has reared it’s ugly head, and at least Warner (finally!) acknowledges it. God, how some people manage to deny the undeniable lest they be proven wrong.

  • I think Warner was lost a while ago, but because he is a GOP team player and the WH line on many issues was close to his, he gave them the benefit of the doubt. I think however, that he has gotten to the point that to continue with the silence which equals tacit support, or the parroting of the adminisration PR line, made him fell insane and was counterproductive to actually accomplishing much of anything. That said, I don’t think he would necessarily be someone to count on when the chips are down and the Democrats need someone to cross the aisle. To Warner, political loyalty, even to the crazies in his party, still trumps other things.

  • Why is it that Republicans are always kicking the can ahead when speaking of the appropriate time to take action? The most famous period of procrastination is of course the “Friedman” unit of six months. What does Warner really think will change in 0.33 to 0.5 Friedmans — besides the ever-increasing body count? Anyone who says we need to wait to take action should just admit they don’t know what to do and are just biding their time and hoping for divine providence to bail their asses out.

  • Warner’s been saying similar things for months now, but most of it has fallen on deaf ears. The moderate Republicans are getting in the Democrats camp and the Bush camp (of incompetence) is getting smaller by the day.

  • It’s a bit old considering that Stay The Course is so yesterday (eye roll). But I suspect that funky odor coming from the WH is desperation.

    The Rolling Stone’s Let’s Spend The Night Together (as wailed by GW)

    My, My, My, My
    Don’t you worry ’bout what’s on your mind (Oh my)
    I’m in a hurry I can’t take my time (Oh my)
    Army’s Bleedin’ red and mandate’s sinking fast (mandate’s sinking fast)
    I’m off my head and my brain’s getting fried.
    I’m high (on life (wink, wink)), But I try, try, try (Oh my)
    Let’s Stay The Course together
    Now I need you more than ever
    Let’s Stay The Course together now

    I feel so strong that I can’t disguise (oh my)
    Let’s Stay The Course together
    But I just can’t apologize (oh no)
    Let’s Stay The Course together
    Don’t string me up and don’t kick me down (don’t kick me down)
    We could have fun sharin blame around around and around
    Oh my, my
    Let’s Stay The Course together
    Now I need you more than ever
    Let’s Stay The Course together

    Let’s Stay The Course together
    Now I need you more than ever

    You know I’m smiling baby
    You need some guiding baby
    I’m just the Decider baby; now-
    I need you more than ever
    Let’s Stay The Course together
    Let’s Stay The Course together now

    Shit always happen to me anyway (oh my)
    Let’s Stay The Course together
    No excuses offered anyway (oh my)
    Let’s Stay The Course together
    I’ll satisfy your every need (every need)
    And I now hope you won’t impeach me
    Oh my, my, my, my, my
    Let’s Stay The Course together
    Now I need you more than ever
    Let’s Stay The Course together now

  • Excellent work Dan.

    My senior Senator, Mr. Warner, seems to climbing out on a limb. Believe you me, I expect the Republican’t party to cut him loose anytime now. Considering that he has to run or retire in two years, behavior like this (actually questioning the President!) is heading him to the old folks home.

    And yes, why he needs another 1/2 Friedman is beyond me.

  • Which side are we on in Iraq?

    That we even have to ask that question can only mean we’ve failed miserably to fullfill the mission that President Bush proclaimed was accomplished back in 2003.

  • Former Dan, you’re a genius.

    A Michael Moore-loving, cut-and-run Defeatocrat, right?

    Yep. By Presidential Decree, all who disagree with his chimperial majesty are Defeatocrat terrorist smoochers. Riding the elephant is no protection against this libel. I mean lable. I think.

    tAiO is feeling cynical and ReThuglican weary beneath the post-election high. Wasn’t Warner one of the “mavericks” who “stood up” to the Chimpocrat and then at the crucial moment, sat down? That’s why my current gauge of ReThuglican sincerity on any issue is his voting record. Action not words. Please.

  • Yep. It IS a big deal. A “change of course” is inevitable and vital to Bush in order to avoid being bodily ejected from the White House.

    The chickens are roosting while more are coming home. A power vacuum is forming in Washington that the Democrats may fill. I still contend that there’s a good chance Bush won’t finish his term. His popularity has dropped to new lows, but more important, his credibility has disappeared. People are becoming sick of the brat.

    How is America going to react to the “stay until victory” message as Iraq’s civil war becomes complete chaos? All Bush and his lackeys can do is hang onto the spin machine and hope for the best.

    My guess is that everything will be tossed to the Democrats and Jim Baker. Bush will blame the Dems and hide behind Baker, blaming him for any failure of HIS new plan.

    What a cosmic dipshit!

  • The Friedmans have got to stop. What can the military accomplish now in the next few months that they have been unable to to in the last 3 and a half years. It just proves the bubble these people live in that they think this situation can still be fixed in 120 days. In my town, thats about the time it takes for the gov’t to fix one bike path!

    I’m sick to my stomach that all my predictions from before the war have more or less come to pass. Now I’m not sure I can keep my lunch down watching Repubs pass the buck.

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