LAT: Republicans Voice Their Doubts (fear public turning against war)

[DeepModem Mom]

Republicans Voice Their Doubts
GOP senators tell Rumsfeld they fear the public is turning against the war in Iraq. 'People are beginning to question,' one says.

By Maura Reynolds, Times Staff Writer


WASHINGTON — One senator described the public's perception of the war in Iraq as "more and more like Vietnam." A second worried that "our very presence there inspires more insurgents." A third said the strain on the armed forces "is getting worse, not better."

Military brass had heard such comments before when they trooped up Capitol Hill to answer questions from Congress. But this time there was a difference: The comments were coming from Republicans.

"We will lose this war if we leave too soon. And what is likely to make us do that? The public going south," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). "And that is happening, and that worries me greatly."

Echoing through the questions posed Thursday to Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and top generals for Iraq was a new note of anxiety, and not just from Democrats long skeptical of the war. Recent polls and phone calls from constituents prompted a series of hang-wringing questions from otherwise supportive Republicans....

***

"I'm here to tell you, sir, in the most patriotic state that I can imagine, people are beginning to question," Graham said. "And I don't think it's a blip on the radar screen."...


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraqmood24jun24,0,6736739.story?coll=la-home-world

[lateo]

1. Time to break out the terror alerts.

[gratuitous]

2. "In the most patriotic state that I can imagine"

That's Republican-speak for "as long as somethin' blows up reel gud, we're with ya, hoss."

And the only reason the Republicans are finally having second thoughts about this reckless and illegal invasion is because people are finally growing tired of pouring money down a bottomless rat hole.

[Kolesar]

4. Notable for its naval base and big military spending...eom

[UpInArms]

5. and since he's in "the most patriotic state"

does that mean he's unconscious?

'Cause that is what you have to be in order to support this illegal war of imperialist oil greed.

Give me a break! I am tired of this crap about "with us or agin us" - what the hell makes this freaktard more patriotic than anyone else?

Has he given up his government paycheck so that it can be applied to the debt he has helped run up?

Are every one of this children and their children enlisted in this immoral war?

:argh:

[salin]

3. so what is there solution...

Get Bush to Propogandize! Reminds me of the effort to sell the war to the middle east... lets open a pro american, hip media (radio, I believe it was). Ya buddy - that did a lot of good.

[AlCzervik]

6. 'People are beginning to question,'-no people have been questioning

for a long time now.

[pmbryant]

9. I think he meant "Republicans have begun to question..."

In my opinion, it is about time. But if so, it is a very good development.

http://pmbryant.typepad.com/b_and_b/2005/06/extremism_in_pu.html

Peter

[Devil Dog Dem]

7. Haven't these GOP pols heard? Liberals are traitors!

That's all they need to say: Liberals are traitors!

[iconoclastic cat]

8. And the sheeple say, "Garsh! The news said I'm tired of Iraq!"

"Well, then, I must be tired of it! Yuk, yuk, yuk!"

And so it begins: The George Bush Blues Explosion.

[Generator]

12. LOL

Yep, let's blame Bush-he's the president, he got us into this war darn it and we voted for the fucker-let's blame him. It's all THEM now.

[ozymandius]

10. Isn't it past time someone question my patriotism?

I mean - c'mon. Jeez! Here I've been this peace-loving anti-war anti-Bush hippie since 1979. And no one - I mean no one- has had the guts to say I am not patriotic. Knowing what i know about Republicans: I thought they would have paraded this one-trick pony across the stage more often.

[ninkasi]

11. A huge difference

Those of us who have been opposed to this fiasco in Iraq from the beginning, have been opposed because we recognized that it was illegal and immoral to invade another country. We were opposed because of the needless death and injuries suffered on both sides, the fact that Saddam no longer possessed WMD, and that it detracted from pursuing Osama bin Laden. We were against it for all the right reasons.

The cons are only questioning it now because they are afraid it will hurt their chances for reelection, and I hope that it does, for every one of them. I also hope that we can elect more progressive Democrats, who won't cave at the first boo, and who really stand up for doing what's right, and putting us first.

[geniph]

13. "The most patriotic state"

On what data, precisely, does he base that bizarre assertion? Military enlistment percentages? Flags and magnets per SUV? Empty-headed politicians per capita wrapping themselves in the flag?

[Lecky]

15. Ha!

I guess he's talking about SC (my state) and we do have a huge number of republicans driving SUVs with yellow ribbon magnets. Maybe we are the most pseudo-patriotic...

[bribri16]

14. NO! The people are turning against THEM!!! n/t

[bemildred]

16. Gee, they sound demoralized. nt