Bush, Senate Condemn Anti-War Ad

President Calls MoveOn.org's Ad Attacking Gen. Petraeus "Disgusting"

(CBS/AP)  The Senate joined President Bush Thursday in denouncing an advertisement by the liberal anti-war group MoveOn.org that accused the top military commander in Iraq of betrayal.

The 72-25 Senate vote condemned the full-page ad that appeared in The New York Times last week as Gen. David Petraeus, the top military commander in Iraq, testified on Capitol Hill. The ad was headlined: "General Petraeus or General Betray Us? Cooking the books for the White House."

The ad became a life raft for the Republican Party as the war debate kicked into high gear. With several Republicans opposed to Mr. Bush's war strategy, GOP members were able to put aside their differences and rally around their disapproval of the ad.

Sen. Gordon Smith, one of the few Republican senators who supports legislation ordering troop withdrawals, told reporters Thursday he thought Petraeus' testimony and the MoveOn.org ad were the two biggest factors in keeping Republicans from breaking ranks with the president: Petraeus' testimony because it was persuasive and the MoveOn add because it went too far by attacking a popular uniformed officer.

"It was stupid on their part and disgraceful," said Smith, R-Ore.

The resolution condemning the ad was sponsored by conservative Republican John Cornyn of Texas. Voting against it were Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Christopher Dodd of Connecticut.

Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, another contender for the Democratic nomination, did not vote, although he voted minutes earlier for an alternative resolution by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. That resolution condemned the MoveOn ad as an "unwarranted personal attack," but also condemned political attack ads that questioned the patriotism of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and former Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga., both Vietnam veterans.

At a White House news conference earlier Thursday, Mr. Bush denounced the ad as "disgusting" and said he was disappointed that more Democrats did not condemn it.

"I felt like the ad was an attack not only on Gen. Petraeus but on the U.S. military, and I was disappointed that not more leaders in the Democrat party spoke out strongly against that ad," he said.

Mr. Bush said that led him to conclude that "most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org, or more afraid of irritating them, then they are of irritating the United States military."

Eli Pariser, executive director of the liberal group, responded: "What's disgusting is that the president has more interest in political attacks than developing an exit strategy to get our troops out of Iraq and end this awful war."

[sftodd]

Poor George -- Karl Rove has abandoned this lame duck, and now everything out of his mouth matches the look on his face.

[pastdue1]

Moveon.org is "disgusting" but hiring a company who sells arms to the enemy is excused and rehired???All those senators who wasted time on the censure in the Senate have been strangely silent about the Blackwater situation, suppose they can''t be bothered with censuring "aiding and abetting the enemy."

[finewoven]

"It was stupid on their part and disgraceful," said Smith, R-Ore.

"I felt like the ad was an attack not only on Gen. Petraeus but on the U.S. military . . ." President Bush.

It''s this kind of partisian politics that supports past errors, and doesn''t really help for future decision making. Having read the book "Imperial Life in the Emerald City," by Rajiv Chandrasekaran, while also having seen the movie "The Tiger and the Snow," I hold a stronger opinion of how good intentions lead the wrong direction. Except to say, that the war is a contest, pure and simple. And it adds to political turmoil in America, simply because it is so hard to be open . . and to trust. Our American principles are being challenged from within.

Like given by the movie, I see this in the American environment for inclusion for the pursuit of happiness. It is for us all to: be alive, to love, and to be free.

[tx2democrats]

The Troops came up with General Betray-Us because he has betrayed the troops and this country to follow Satan into the depths of hell. Bush is Satan to the middle east, he has brought them their armaggedon.

[tx2democrats]

This is the GAYEST administration, they make Hoover look butch. Why would a gay internet hooker get a White House Press Pass, ask Rove? He knows why.

[tx2democrats]

Has anyone checked the mens bathroom stalls in Texas for obviously gay Rove? a-tap-a-tap-a-tap-a

[tx2democrats]

No more Cheerleader Presidents. We need a president with an "A" average, not this c-dumbazz.

[toldyouso21]

I rarely give any money to any political party or campaign---in fact, I don''t think I ever have--to give when you do not support much of what they do or how they do it -=-only invites future mooching from the party later. But in this case--MoveON WILL be getting a donation. For daring to say and do what the rest of these freaks on both sides don''t dare. Did Patreaus betray us? That sort of was the question--the general''s azz is not a prayer book and his mouth ain''t a bible--he is subject to critical scrutiny like everyone else. Instead of letting others speak for him--his words and actions will--that is a better indictment than silly pronouncements from the most venal and vicious political party ever to be in power in America and the Democratic wannebees too scared to go against them and their maniacal king george.

[red164]

When democracy failed: The warnings of history
by Thom Hartmann

Casting opposition as traitors
To deal with those who dissented from his policies, at the advice of his politically savvy advisors, he and his handmaidens in the press began a campaign to equate him and his policies with patriotism and the nation itself. National unity was essential, they said, to ensure that the terrorists or their sponsors didn''t think they''d succeeded in splitting the nation or weakening its will. In times of war, they said, there could be only %u201Cone people, one nation, and one commander-in-chief%u201D (%u201CEin Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer%u201D), and so his advocates in the media began a nationwide campaign charging that critics of his policies were attacking the nation itself. Those questioning him were labeled %u201Canti-German%u201D or %u201Cnot good Germans,%u201D and it was suggested they were aiding the enemies of the state by failing in the patriotic necessity of supporting the nation''s valiant men in uniform. It was one of his most effective ways to stifle dissent

Thom Hartmann lived and worked in Germany during the 1980s, and is the author of over a dozen books, including %u201CUnequal Protection%u201D and %u201CThe Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight.%u201D

[red164]

Ecc 4:1 6 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of [such as were] oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors [there was] power; but they had no comforter.

:+)

Ecc 4:2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.


Ecc 4:3 Yea, better [is he] than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

[Krazcarl]

Just wondered how the hate mongering was going appears you need no help, I''ll leave you be. This is getting so old.

[gkc99]

"I am outraged by President Bush%u2019s thinly veiled threat that Democrats should be more afraid of irritating the U.S. Military than of offending an organization that speaks-out on behalf of many American Citizens."--Posted by rfulfer


Bushit the Elder illegally used the regular U.S. Army to militarily occupy a portion of northern California, to catch pot growers. A genuine military takeover of portions of Mendocino and Humboldt counties occurred when Bushit the Elder moved airborne Army units to establish a military perimeter around Chemisa Mtn in the Lost Coast area.

Bushit the Curious Chimp, our present Occupant, is always trying to one-up his "daddy" so expect a domestic military occupation at some point. Except he will use Blackwater mercenaries, as some of the troops might object to shooting fellow citizens and turn their guns on their officers. Blackwater thugs will have no such compunctions. It already happened in Louisiana. After Katrina, armed pigs turned back refugees trying to get to safety on the Metaire bridge. There will be more of the same if the fascists gain further control.

Thanks, Bushits!

[michellem99-2009]

End the war.
By Barbara Ann
We are paying dearly.
We the people know that.
We ask our leaders
To please listen.
Haven nevwr seen the ads
They whine over.
The sighted placed such.
I can''t raise my paw as my Dad did.
They would not have allowed me to.
I am an American who is legally blind.
As I tap about.
They can''t see the war as it is
Enjoy yer car as that is why the war.
Over oil anf the price goes up.
Come home troops.
Thank you each one for yer service.
To this Nation.
Good or bad yer did yer duty.
That yer earnt dear Vets.

Please give Barbara Ann the credit if yer use this verse, Thank you,

[sftodd]

Supporters of the First Amendment and free speech -- give your money to MoveOn -- teach the democrats to earn our support -- we need politicians who will fight republican efforts to squash freedom and democracy in this country. Let''s get rid of the timid democrats who are afraid of their own shadows -- this is war, and if they are not for free speech and democracy, they are against it.

[prinzowhales]

Senators! Spineless, egg-sucking dogs! The Chimp lied this nation into war...the vile animal that presides over you, ''Shotgun'' Cheney, had his underlings betray a CIA agent--Valerie Plame--and you only come to life to condemn an organization that did not lie us into Iraq-nam...did not betray the nation on 9-11...did not lie us into two wars...

The border remains open while this faux-War on Terror picks the pocket of the nation! Scum!
The Stupid Peoples'' War continues...what are the true casualty figures? --The Pentagram only counts as KIA, those who die on the ground...not those who have left for treatment...How many? Is it 15,000 KIA now? How many brave vets are scarred for life...while the Senate sits, recesses, sits again and collects it pound of flesh from the American people.

Down with the Senate! Down with the Demo-publican Regime! Troops Home Now!

[prinzowhales]

I really hate to see a gatekeeper for the Ruling Class like MoveOn gain from being condemned by such a prize pack of swine as the lying dog Bush and the scum-sucking vermin of the Senate.

General Betrayus was put in command in Iraq to serve the political interests of the Neo-scum regime to follow the party line and regurgitate the vomit of this regime that he, Barney''s protege, laps up for the sake of advancement.

Senators! You are the scum of the earth! You are human garbage who have betrayed this nation for the sake of Oil, Israel and Opium! Your condemnation means less than nothing! Filth! Jackals! Go crawl back up the dead bloated cow''s backside from whence you came!

Troops Home Now! The enemy control Washington, the borders are open, the Constitution betrayed! Troops...Home...NOW!!

[hwy71so]

Well, this retired military is sick and tired of all the liberal hog wash.

They''ve been contorting the Constitution long enough.

[sftodd]

I''m not outraged by Bush''s threat re: democrats should be afraid of our military. I''m glad he is being more bold about how much he and his party hate the freedom of speech and the first amendment. They truly want americans to be afraid of being locked up or even tortured for speaking their mind. We are at a crossroads -- republicans want us to be afraid of our own government. Wake up Americans, before it is too late.

[rfulfer]

I am outraged by President Bush%u2019s thinly veiled threat that Democrats should be more afraid of irritating the U.S. Military than of offending an organization that speaks-out on behalf of many American Citizens.

Should we as citizens also be afraid of irritating the U.S. Military? Why are our lawmakers spending any time at all denouncing statements made by a grass-roots, citizen-based group that reflect the sentiments of a steadily growing portion of the American population who oppose the war?

What is the message here? I%u2019m afraid the message is don%u2019t oppose the current administration or you will lose your job, be ridiculed by the propaganda machine financed by Big Business and be in danger of irritating people with guns, tanks and bombs.

Maybe Bush is not planning to leave office in 2008, maybe he%u2019s thinking of taking over the U.S. Military and staying in power. He%u2019s already taken over everything else and had the justice department make it retroactively legal for him to break the law.

I%u2019m not afraid of the U.S. Military, I%u2019m not afraid of a political action group, I%u2019m afraid of the President and his idea that he is the ruler of this country and can%u2019t be held accountable for his crimes.

[hwy71so]

Trust me. The Democrats in Congress would not have received him contemptiously if he weren''t just another grunt to them.

But, believe what you want. I hear they sell rose colored glasses at Spencer''s.