Clinton Pounces On "Mission Accomplished"

Democratic Candidate Calls President's 2003 Speech Blot On Leadership

(CBS)  Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton denounced President George W. Bush on Saturday for his "Mission Accomplished" speech and said his conduct of the Iraq war was "one of the darkest blots on leadership we've ever had."

Addressing delegates at the California State Democratic Party convention, Clinton said that if elected president in 2008, she would end the war. The New York senator also promised to "treat all Americans with dignity and equality no matter who you are and who you love." The pledge was a clear bow to California's politically active and influential gay community.

Taking on Bush's policies, Clinton contended the president has ignored scientific evidence on global warming and stem cell research while also dismissing the concerns of the middle class. She said his administration had "lied" about the effects of toxic dust at the World Trade Center site in New York after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Her voice raspy from days of campaigning, Clinton brought delegates to their feet when she said she wished she could turn the clock back to a different time.

"Somebody said to me that he wished we could just rewind the 21st century and just eliminate the Bush-Cheney administration, with all their mistakes and misjudgments," she said to cheers. "People are ready for leaders who understand it is our votes who put them in power, our tax dollars that pay the bills."

She lambasted the "Mission Accomplished" speech nearly four years ago, in which Bush declared an end to major military actions in Iraq. He made the comment while on the deck of an aircraft carrier off the California coast.

That speech, Clinton said, was "one of the most shameful episodes in American history. ... The only mission he accomplished was the re-election of Republicans."

California is poised to play a greater role in the presidential nominating process, having recently moved its primary to Feb. 5 to join several other large states in holding contests that day.

Most of the top Democratic presidential contenders planned to address the convention during the weekend.

Delegates were to hear Clinton's main rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, later Saturday afternoon, in addition to Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson were on Sunday's schedule.

Clinton's speech was well-received among the generally left-leaning delegates who typically attend this state's Democratic gatherings.

Four years ago, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean — then a little-known figure in the 2004 Democratic field — thrilled convention delegates with his fiery denunciation of the war. His rivals at the time, including Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, who eventually won the nomination, were loudly booed for defending their 2002 vote to authorize the war.

Clinton cast the same vote in 2002, but met with only sporadic heckling during her speech.

Some candidates who attended South Carolina's party convention Saturday said they thought the United States has lost its global standing during Bush's presidency. America, they said, needs a Democratic commander in chief to restore its place in the world.

"We are today internationally and domestically a nation that is no longer a leader," Richardson said.

Edwards, the 2004 vice presidential nominee, said the world needs to see that "America can be a force for good."

"What their perception is that America is a bully and we only care about our short-term interests," Edwards said. "The starting place is to end the bleeding sore that is the war in Iraq."

Richardson, Edwards and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden said they would make ending the war a priority.

"The American people are looking for us as Democrats," said Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "They're looking for someone literally, not figuratively, to restore America's place in the world."

[randalds]

"The only mission he accomplished was the re-election of Republicans."

Sadly that's all it was intended to accomplish. Four years later and nine of our troops were murdered today in Bush's Folly. Nine more families will get notice that proves to them that four years later the mission is not and is never going to be "accomplished". It is time to pull out and pull out now and anyone who calls that "cutting and running" should be required by law to put their backside where their cowardly blowhard mouths are and go to Iraq to fight in this LOST war!.

[hawksprings]

Since Mrs. Clinton is multi-lingual, what language did she give this speech in? English? Southern? Arabic?

...

[starleo146]

I couldn't add one more word you said beautifully Randalds.

[jimbo554]

"Since Mrs. Clinton is multi-lingual, what language did she give this speech in? English? Southern? Arabic?"

What the heck is that supposed to mean? As I see it, she was just calling a spade, a spade. Yep, it was English, plain and simple.

She's clearly the best qualified for the job of President.

[hawksprings]

Jimbo, don't you read the news? Mrs. Clinton speaks 'southern' whenever she's in front of a black audience. When asked about it she said it's good for our leaders to be multi-lingual.

So I guess when she is president she's speak arabic to the terrorists who start car bombing and suicide bombing on American soil, since they see how easily Democrats cut and run.

Another question: Once the Islamic terrorists start more 9/11-type attacks on our soil, will Mrs. Clinton, Mrs. Pelosi, and Mr. Reid call for withdrawal of American troops from the USA when they decide the war here is lost?

...

[iceman_1960]

She lambasted the "Mission Accomplished" speech nearly four years ago...That speech, Clinton said, was "one of the most shameful episodes in American history. ... The only mission he accomplished was the re-election of Republicans."

Hillary is being too generous to Bush.

It was THE most shamefully foolish speech any American president has ever given.

His followers try in vain to point out that Bush cautioned about future dangers. That was pro forma. He was referring to the dangers of routine mopping up operations. There is no doubt at all that he failed utterly to foresee the four years of quagmire that followed.

Take a good look at this man's face. Does he look like someone soberly considering the future that did in fact follow his giddy remarks ?

Bush:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/05/images/20030501-15_lincoln11-250h.jpg

[hawksprings]

It's amazing to me that the stoopidest, dumbest president in the history of the USA could so completely fool Mrs. Clinton, the smartest, most intelligent, multi-lingual woman in the world, fool her in to voting for the Iraq war.

To quote Mr. Iceman:
"There is no doubt at all that she failed utterly to foresee the four years of quagmire that followed."

With Mrs. Clinton's brilliance, how could that have happend?

...

[iceman_1960]

"Hillary is being too generous to Bush. It was THE most shamefully foolish speech any American president has ever given."

Honorable mention goes to Bush's 2002 speech in Tokyo:

"For a century and a half now, America and Japan have formed one of the great and enduring alliances of modern times." - G.W. Bush, speaking in Tokyo, Japan, Feb. 18, 2002.

[A century and a half takes us back to Admiral Perry's visit to Japan. Bush apparently wasn't aware of Pearl Harbor when he made his remarks. I'm sure his aides quickly filled him in later.]

[iceman_1960]

"It's amazing to me that the stoopidest, dumbest president in the history of the USA could so completely fool Mrs. Clinton, the smartest, most intelligent, multi-lingual woman in the world, fool her in to voting for the Iraq war."
- Posted by HawkSprings at 06:55 PM : Apr 28, 2007

Good question. I can't wait to hear her explain that.

I don't blame you for trying to spread the respnsibility around. If this Iraq war had been a brilliant success, you would never have mentioned her voting for it.

Congress definitely abdicated its Constitutional responsibility to control all things military. The Constitution mentions the President as "Commander in Chied" only in half of one sentence, but details the Congress' detailed control over America's military, even to "making Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water" (whatever the h*ell that means.)

The Commander in Chief is clearly subservient to Congress in military matters, according to the Constitution, and Congress (with some honorable exceptions) rolled over for Bush.

[asor1-2009]

"Mission accomplished..." was way beyond stupid, that's true. But who can forget "shock and awe"?
We have a moron in the White House and he has not for one day let us forget that. As he said about the parents in Virginia, "jus hug 'em and love on 'em". What a caring genius!
Go Hillary!

[hawksprings]

Iceman, I just did some quick searching and cannot verify the quote you gave from President Bush's speech on Feb. 18, 2002 about a century and a half alliance with Japan.

It does not appear that he even gave a speech that day.
Can you verify the source of that quote?

I don't think it's true.

[iceman_1960]

Another Southern English Arabic mishap...

"One of my concerns is that the health care not be as good as it can possibly be." - G.W. Bush, on benefits provided to military personnel, Tipp City, Ohio, April 19, 2007.

Needless to say, he meant he was concerned that it was not as good as possible, but something was lost when they translated it into English.

[hawksprings]

Iceman,

I found a press conference that Bush gave that day in Japan, but in the transcript nothing is said about 'a century and a half'.

You've been fooled by someone spreading a lie about what President Bush said.

[sharncedar]

"It was THE most shamefully foolish speech any American president has ever given"

The most shameful political speech in American history, however, is Hillary Clinton's speech 4 years later trying to pretend she was against the jingoism of the Iraq war. She was a behind-the-scenes player in the war and its selling and its build-up, she carried water night and day for the AIPAC lobby that lied about the war, she was head cheerleader in the Senate. Bush is a fool and a liar, but a fool and a liar who sticks stubbornly to his mistakes. Hillary Clinton is a kind of evil far beyond that, far more grotesque, even more dangerous. A chameleon of violence, a proponent of bloddshed and murder in te backroom, then a traitor and sellout in public when her evil war starts to go bad. I assume we will really finally get our just desserts with this nightmare figure as our president.

Sadly, I believe those defenders of freedom left here will long for the days of George Bush and his bloody and stubborn stupidity. When Hillary rides in with political correctness, and a war-mongerer and sellout, and stifles even the speech out of our mouths with her pals Al Sharpton and the Isreali butchers. Dark days ahead for our beloved nation.

[hawksprings]

Sharn, you could be more right about Mrs. Clinton, and her husband, being chameleons.

They will instantly blend in to whatever the politics of the humans around them, and in Mrs. Clinton's case, she even blends in to the accent of the humans around her.

Because of that scary ability, we don't know what Mrs. Clinton REALLY believes deep down in that huge, incredibly smart brain of hers.

...

[me4prezz]

Another question: Once the Islamic terrorists start more 9/11-type attacks on our soil, will Mrs. Clinton, Mrs. Pelosi, and Mr. Reid call for withdrawal of American troops from the USA when they decide the war here is lost?

...
Posted by HawkSprings at 06:46 PM : Apr 28, 2007

Not if we pull the soldiers from Iraq (who had nothing to do with 9/11) and put there in a country that did have something to do with 9/11...

Repeat after me..

Saudi Arabia. Good job!

[iceman_1960]

"Iceman, I just did some quick searching and cannot verify the quote you gave from President Bush's speech on Feb. 18, 2002 about a century and a half alliance with Japan. It does not appear that he even gave a speech that day.
Can you verify the source of that quote? I don't think it's true."
- Posted by HawkSprings at 07:07 PM : Apr 28, 2007

Delighted to honor your request, at Bush's own official website.

Note that a faithful editor, perhaps Karl Rove himself, has corrected the president's blunder with a (**):

"My trip to Asia begins here in Japan for an important reason. (Applause.) It begins here because for a century and a half** now, America and Japan have formed one of the great and enduring alliances of modern times. From that alliance has come an era of peace in the Pacific. And in that peace, the world has witnessed the broad advance of prosperity and democracy throughout East Asia." **(half a century)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/02/20020218-2.html

[slipster01]

Mrs Clinton needs to refresh herself. The President didn't declare "Mission Accomplished". The crew of the aircraft carrier were making that statement.

""The banner stating "Mission Accomplished" was the main source of controversy and criticism. Navy Commander and Pentagon spokesman Conrad Chun stated that the banner referred specifically to the aircraft carrier's 10-month deployment (which was the longest deployment of a carrier since the Vietnam War) and not the war itself, saying "It truly did signify a mission accomplished for the crew."""

[iceman_1960]

"You've been fooled by someone spreading a lie about what President Bush said."
- Posted by HawkSprings at 07:12 PM : Apr 28, 2007

All right, all right now...

Who's the wiseguy at www.whitehouse.gov, who's been spreading lies there about Bush ?????

I bet it was Barb and Jenna, after hoisting a few...

[slipster01]

The most refreshing thing about the current President is that he is NOT worried about popularity, polls, or wooing voters (ala fake accents). He does the job he was elected to do.

You hear Reid and Pelosi harping about 'the American people have spoken' when referring to the election of a Democrat-majority Congress. But they constantly ignore the fact that a majority voted FOR President Bush. Why do they disregard THAT majority's desires?

When all the other politicians stop acting the way they believe the polls want them to act, and start to act in the best interest of this country, we'll find that the media will no longer be able to foist their version of reality on the American public anymore.

[iceman_1960]

"Mrs Clinton needs to refresh herself. The President didn't declare "Mission Accomplished". The crew of the aircraft carrier were making that statement"
- Posted by SlipSter01 at 07:25 PM : Apr 28, 2007

SlipSter01 could use a little refreshment as well.

"Bannergate !!!!"

"Not long afterwards, the White House had to amend its account. The soldiers hadn't put up the sign; the White House had done the hoisting. It had also produced the banner %u2014 contrary to what senior White House officials had said for months. In the end, the White House conceded on those details, but declared them mere quibbles. The point was, they said, that the whole thing had been done at the request of the crewmembers. Even that explanation didn't sit well with some long-time Bush aides. "They (the White House) put up banners at every event that look just like that and we're supposed to believe that at this one it was the Navy that requested one?" asked a senior administration official. Others remember staffers boasting about how the president had been specifically positioned during his speech so that the banner would be captured in footage of his speech."

http://www.time.com/time/columnist/printout/0,8816,536170,00.html

[iceman_1960]

"They spiked the ball on the ten before they crossed the goal line."

From the previous link, written shortly after the "Mission Accomplished" speech:

"Some Bush allies are not so steadfast. As criticism of the president's visit to the Lincoln has grown, so too has the number of voices from the president's own camp who argue that, regardless of what message may have been sent to the troops, the White House sent an even bigger one of self-satisfaction and boastfulness to the rest of the world. The image-making may backfire for the White House because it broke one of its own cardinal rules. "When you're in the end zone act like you've been there," say senior officials of the confident repose they strike after any White House triumph. But after Saddam's statue fell, says one administration official picking up on the football analogy, the Bush team staged "an end zone dance. The problem is that they spiked the ball on the ten before they crossed the goal line." In the end, no matter how good the celebration may have looked, it could still be ruled a fumble."

[kesac4650]

That's ok, we're going to hear plenty about how she was going to solve the "health care crisis" while she was First Lady, and then for six years as an elected Senator, who has some ability to actually make such things happen, she has never authored any bill to even minimally improve the problem.
She could try to get the 7.5% Adjusted Income threshold eliminated so people can deduct their medical bills in toto for a small start, but I doubt that will happen.

[iceman_1960]

"[A century and a half takes us back to Admiral Perry's visit to Japan. Bush apparently wasn't aware of Pearl Harbor when he made his remarks. I'm sure his aides quickly filled him in later.]"
- Posted by Iceman_1960 at 06:55 PM : Apr 28, 2007

Yup. An aide filled him in. They dared not change the remark at their own website, but an aide added the double asterisks:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/relea
ses/2002/02/20020218-2.html

Is it not beyond disgraceful that an American President had to be told about Pearl Harbor by an aide ?

[slipster01]

Gonna hear a lot more on how ol Bill pounced on interns as the elections get closer, and some of the stories of who Hillary bounced on will come out as well.

[iceman_1960]

The website messed up that link by adding the newline character.

Here it is again.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/02/20020218-2.html

[iceman_1960]

The Republicans may try to steal the 2008 election by hiding behind Monica Lewinsky's stained dress.

I'm betting that the mess in Iraq will be more important to the voters than the virtue of one willing intern.

[slipster01]

Iceman_1960, is it not beyond disgraceful that a married US President has *** with a White House intern, lies about it, then gets off scot-free?

And poor, poor Hillary was so totally clue-less about that. How can we trust her to run a country, when she can't even see what is going on under her own nose?

[gdmoore2]

Hillary found her voice. Good on her! Go get 'em! It is about time...

[jeepmanjr]

She shoulda "pounced" on Bill years ago. Maybe coulda avoided the whole Monica thing. Maybe she shoulda took up smoking cigars!! :-)

[slipster01]

More likely the Democrats will steal the 2008 election by concocting endless investigations on the Republicans, to the point that we will have no clue as to what the Democrats have actually accomplished from 2006 to 2008 other than that (which will be NOTHING AT ALL).


'Win by making your opponent look worse, not by proving that you are better' is the new Democrat mantra.

[iceman_1960]

"Iceman_1960, is it not beyond disgraceful that a married US President has *** with a White House intern, lies about it, then gets off scot-free?
And poor, poor Hillary was so totally clue-less about that. How can we trust her to run a country, when she can't even see what is going on under her own nose?" - Posted by SlipSter01 at 07:57 PM : Apr 28, 2007

Sounding a little desperate there.

Sensing defeat already.

Good. Keep it up. Try to turn 2008 into a referendum on Monicagate.

The American people will see through that.

They're not as dumb as whoever came up with that strategy.

[kesac4650]

Al Queda is waitiing for the Democrats to win the election and kowtow. Bin Laden will then declare "Mission Accomplished" while Hillary is being sworn in.
The low point in America's prestige on the world stage ocurred while Jimmy Carter sat and let our hostages rot for 400 day while he sat as an impotent President emboldening the Jihadists.
Hillary is promising to return us to those days of yore.

[iceman_1960]

"And poor, poor Hillary was so totally clue-less about that. How can we trust her to run a country, when she can't even see what is going on under her own nose?"

This was exactly the strategy that Democrats tried to use against Ronald Reagan.

Now it's your turn to attempt it.

[iceman_1960]

"The low point in America's prestige on the world stage ocurred while Jimmy Carter sat and let our hostages rot for 400 day while he sat as an impotent President emboldening the Jihadists."

They were released a few hours after Ronald Reagan's Inauguration.

Many suspect Reagan cut a deal with them.

If that's true, he should have been hanged for it.

IF it's true.

[iceman_1960]

"Many suspect Reagan cut a deal with them. If that's true, he should have been hanged for it."

I say that only because Reagan later got in bed with the Ayatollahs in Iran-Contra.

He supplied weapons to America's worst enemies, in secret and illegally.

Very suspicious behavior, after the earlier release of the hostages as he was taking office.

Very suspicious.

[slipster01]

Iceman_1960,

Before posting that kinda accusation, mind providing even a drop of proof, other than your word? Who accused him, when, and in what fashion?

Quit trying to make Carter's failure someone else's fault. It occured, as the Dems are fond of saying, on 'his watch', not Reagan's.

[mlbrown626]

Why doesn't anyone remember the college and just past college "antics" of the Clintons? Also why doesn't anyone remember all of the times that poor Hillary lost her memory completely during different investigations. It seems to me that she may have a problem, perhaps some type of brain tumor or something, that makes her forget what she doesn't want to remember. I for one do not want someone like that leading MY country!

[slipster01]

And maybe the Iranians knew they could screw Carter over, but not Reagan, and were afraid of him (as they should have been). Ever thought of it that way? Why the conspiracy approach?

When you can't prove your right, accuse the other guy of hiding something, eh?

Sounds like a 'vast right-wing conspiracy' to me (ala Hillary Clinton)

[me4prezz]

But they constantly ignore the fact that a majority voted FOR President Bush. Why do they disregard THAT majority's desires?
Posted by SlipSter01 at 07:34 PM : Apr 28, 2007

Um, actually that would be termed mechanical failure or lack of sales in the book "Voting for Dummies". The first time, he won by a technicality. The 2nd time, he was the lesser of 2 evils---or at least we thought at the time.

[iceman_1960]

"Iceman_1960,

Before posting that kinda accusation, mind providing even a drop of proof, other than your word? Who accused him, when, and in what fashion?"
- Posted by SlipSter01 at 08:12 PM : Apr 28, 2007

Accusation ? I just said it's a little suspicious that Iran-Contra would follow, after the Iran hsotages were released hours after his Inauguration.

I was wrong about one detail. It was minutes, not hours:

"On January 20, 1981, the hostages were formally released into United States custody after spending 444 days in captivity. The release took place just minutes after Ronald Reagan was officially sworn in as president."

And then Iran-Contra followed.

You'd be d*amned suspicious if that had happened with Bill Clinton, not Ronald Reagan.

[iceman_1960]

"And maybe the Iranians knew they could screw Carter over, but not Reagan, and were afraid of him (as they should have been)."
- Posted by SlipSter01 at 08:15 PM : Apr 28, 2007

They were so scared of Reagan they got in bed with him:

Iran-Contra

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_contra

[iceman_1960]

Iran's allies in Beirut, Lebanon also demonstrated how terrified they were of Ronald Reagan.

But Reagan did save America from devastation at the hands of the Evil Empire of Grenada, though, I'll give him that.

[me4prezz]

The most refreshing thing about the current President is that he is NOT worried about popularity, polls, or wooing voters (ala fake accents). He does the job he was elected to do.
Posted by SlipSter01 at 07:34 PM : Apr 28, 2007

Really? We elected him to lie, abuse his political power, misuse the truse of the American people, violate our rights, abuse our freedoms, and rip to shreds the Constitution only to use it at whim when it is convenient for whatever story he has concocted next to cover the tracks of the last story that has lost the faith of the people in order to keep an illegal war in progress!?

Wow. I had no idea...

[iceman_1960]

Here's a short poem:

didntinhale
belongs in jail.

Spamming a website to bring it down is a Federal offense. A felony.

[me4prezz]

Why doesn't anyone remember the college and just past college "antics" of the Clintons? Also why doesn't anyone remember all of the times that poor Hillary lost her memory completely during different investigations. It seems to me that she may have a problem, perhaps some type of brain tumor or something, that makes her forget what she doesn't want to remember. I for one do not want someone like that leading MY country!
Posted by mlbrown626 at 08:13 PM : Apr 28, 2007

Maybe because "college antics" pale in comparison to 3300 lost American soldier lives, billions-if not trillions-of lost money spent on an illegal war, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilans slaughtered, our country's pride and power in the eyes of the world smashed into the ground antics of the current President.

But, that's just me...


Even Presidents have private lives!! Even Presidents have private lives!!
Posted by didntinhale at 08:24 PM : Apr 28, 2007


You are scaring me didntinhale...I actually agree with that post...

Help! I am going to call a neurologist and get a CAT scan to make sure I am not having a stroke...

[iceman_1960]

"Tobias, 65, who is married, told ABC News there had been "no ***" during the women's visits to his condo."

There will be lots of *** in didntinhale's prison cell.

[iceman_1960]

"[Reagan] also brought down the Soviet Union but I guess you dont remember that."

He couldn't have.

He didn't send any troops.

It's going into the 5th year, and 130,000 troops are nowhere near bringing down the insurgency in a country miniscule in size compared to the Soviet Empire at that time.

Men like Sohlzhenitsyn (sp?) and Boris Yeltsin and Lech Walesa and many others brought it down, not Reagan.

[iceman_1960]

"Havent sent anyone spam Icepussy and I have never tried to shut anything down. You have been complaining about me for a month." - didntinhale

You're a liar.

You completely obliterated the Comments section of "Senate Passes Iraq Withdrawal Bill" with illegal "forum spam."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/26/politics/main2730373.shtml

[condumism]

The GOPig Nazi Party, with its epicenter in the Confederate Southern States (ever wonder why white southerners talk like African Americans?) will soon be asked to get out of the USA and form its own country. The behavior of these Confederate losers is the same as all vendictive losers throughout history, of passing on hate from one generation to the next.