Bush: Critics of troop rise must offer alternative (AP)

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070113/ts_nm/iraq_bush_dc_1


Bush: Critics of troop rise must offer alternative

By Caren Bohan
17 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush made clear on Saturday he would not back off his plan to send more troops to Iraq despite bipartisan hostility to the idea and he accused his critics of failing to offer an alternative.


Bush's announcement this week that he would add 21,500 troops in Iraq to try to quell sectarian violence was greeted by scathing criticism on Capitol Hill. The United States has about 130,000 troops in Iraq now. The extra troops would go to Baghdad and the volatile Anbar province.

Democrats in Congress and even some Republicans, said they doubted the plan would work, given that past force increases failed to halt the bloodshed and that it relied heavily on the Iraqi government to come through on commitments it previously had not met.

Congressional Democrats swept to power in November elections widely seen as a referendum on the unpopular war.

"We recognize that many members of Congress are skeptical," Bush said in his weekly radio address. "Members of Congress have a right to express their views, and express them forcefully."

[Wwagsthedog]

1. DK has already offered a 12 point plan. nt

[rodeodance]

5. bush only wants plans that go for 'success" Redeployment is

not in the realm of 'success"

[unblock]

2. my critics must lead!

[rodeodance]

3. 'to offer an alternative that has a better chance for success.'

....."But those who refuse to give this plan a chance to work have an obligation to offer an alternative that has a better chance for success. To oppose everything while proposing nothing is irresponsible," he said.

Many Democrats want to see a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops beginning within a few months

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Impeachment and withdrawal. Or, if you prefer, withdrawal, then impeachment,

It's all the same to me.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

7. Then exile to Baghdad, and not in the Green Zone.

Asshats!

[rodeodance]

8. now that is a PLAN

[Demeter]

12. Second the Motion!

And the camel Bush rode in on!

[rodeodance]

6. TAG LINE said that Bush in inviting top repugs to Camp David

this weekend.

msnbc

[Teaser]

9. Let me offer War Nerd's response

But I just have to say one thing first: when I hear that same line from Bush, about critics not offering solutions, I want to bash certain heads in. Not any specific heads, Mr. Secret Service dude, just, uh, in general.

It reminds me of a drunk driver waking up to find himself at the wheel of his friend's new car, now wrapped around a tree. His buddies are screaming at him, every name in the book, and he says, "Oh, it's easy to criticize, but where do we go from here?"

Now that, folks, is gall. You almost have to admire it, it's so insane. HE wraps OUR car around the tree, and we're in the wrong for complaining? No wonder he's on top; you can't beat gall like that.

And by the way, the correct answer to that question, "Where do we go from here?" is, "Well, the first thing we do is drag the driver out of the wreck and kick him to death right there on the scene, with his face down in leaked tranny fluid, just on general principles." I'm just talking in general here, no specific faces are implied, in case those guys in the suits, earpieces and shades are taking notes.

link

[SutaUvaca]

10. Son of a bitch, spins bloody death!

What the hell has chimpshit been pondering/ignoring for the last month and a half if not all the
"alternative plans" everyone with a brain has already iterated?!

[Missy M]

11. No Bush.....

you broke it, you fix it.

[Coventina]

15. Yes, that really burns me up. He screws up and expects someone else

to fix it.

Go fuck yourself, George.

[rodeodance]

13. another headline about this here. says Irresponsible!

Sat Jan-13-07 09:49 AM
Original message
"To oppose everything while proposing nothing is irresponsible," Bush said.


Bush defends Iraq plan against skeptics
By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
8 minutes ago


WASHINGTON - President Bush on Saturday challenged lawmakers skeptical of his new Iraq plan to propose their own strategy for stopping the violence in Baghdad.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070113/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush

"To oppose everything while proposing nothing is irresponsible," Bush said.

In a pitch to lawmakers and the American people, Bush said the United States will keep the onus on the Iraqi government to take charge of security and reach a political reconciliation. He countered Democrats and his fellow Republicans who argue that Bush is sending 21,500 more U.S. troops into Iraq on the same mission.

"We have a new strategy with a new mission: Helping secure the population, especially in Baghdad," Bush said in his weekly radio address. "Our plan puts Iraqis in the lead."

The president asked for patience from lawmakers who grilled Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, when they testified before Congress in defense of the president's new plan.

[LiberalFighter]

20. Everything Bush proposes IS irresponsible

He got us into the mess and makes it worse.

The only way we will get out of this mess is with a different President. Why? Because, a different President won't be under the same constraints as Bush has imposed on himself. Leaders in the Middle East will be more willing to work with just about anyone except Bush to provide Iraq's independence.

[niceypoo]

14. So, its up to the democrats to rescue him? Didnt the Iraq study group hand him a plan?

We all know how this guy listens to advise.

[lyonn]

45. Iraq Study Groups' Plan wasn't even considered by bush

In fact he did the opposite. Murtha and others have discussed plans of moving to the periphery and allowing the Iraqis to work out their differences, if all hell breaks lose we would be within striking distance to step in.

Bottom line, bush is looking for a lifeline, any lifeline!! Sorry bushie, not this time....

[bluedog]

16. Iraq study group and the Generals did!!!!!

what a f'k wad........he turned his noseat the study group and got rid of the Generals..........

[Warren Stupidity]

17. Get out. nt.

[Xipe Totec]

18. Resign, George. How's that for an alternative. n/t

[TheCowsCameHome]

19. Here it is: No troop rise. Is that simple enough for you?

All single syllable words. Even *W* should get that.

[yojon]

21. George, george... there is only one honerable way out

oh thats right.. you dont have any honor. Sorry.

[Turbineguy]

22. Err... excuse me sir....

I have an alternative strategy: How about a little IMPEACHMENT?

[maryallen]

23. Uh, the Baker-Hamilton Proposal???

Must not count if it preceded Waterloo 2 ...

[54anickel]

24. The press ignores the fact that Dimson has flatly rejected alternative

proposals, perpetuating his myth that there are/have been no alternatives offered. They ignore his "my way or the highway" stance and continue to give him a pass on a realistic definition of "victory".

[lyonn]

46. Exactly, the press continues to ask the question, what do Dems

propose?? Dems are all over the place giving statements, drawing pictures, etc.. The American people have been fooled one too many times to allow Georgies to play the blame game while our troops are paying the price each day for his ignorance/arrogance.

[rodeodance]

51. yes, it is getting beyond irritating to listen to the press ask that

question.

[jarab]

25. Plans are sometimes so stupid

the opposiition must have a prolonged period of cringing before doing anything.
OK. The alternative is the legislation to reauthorize (or not) this Asian war. That is the only viable option.
In the same breath this rascal and his minions remind us that war power is the province of the president .... and then admit they're out of ideas.
If you're in charge, do the surge. If not, defer to Congress. It's one or the other, but not a combination of the two.
Voices of opposition hurt this bunch so much. Laugh a day. And, there really shouldn't be anything to laugh about when we're talking war and its conduct. That's how twisted we've become - thanks to the imbecile 43.

...O...

[AndyTiedye]

26. We Have Proposed An Alternative!

[beardown]

27. Hear no Advice Bush

   We told Bush to let the inspectors finish their job. He
ignored us.
   We told Bush to not invade. He ignored us.
   His generals told him that he should use a few hundred
thousand troops. He ignored them.
   His Secretary of State wrote a book saying don't invade if
you don't have a clear goal and if you don't have an exit
strategy. He ignored his book, but in Bush's defense, he
doesn't read books.
   His Pentagon told him he'd need a full occupation plan. He
ignored them.
   The Iraqi people told him thank you for getting rid of
Saddam, now leave. He ignored them.
   He declared Mission Accomplished. He ignored himself and
did not leave Iraq.
   We told him that the Iraqi resistance was growing. He
ignored us.
   We told him that the Iraqi resistance wasn't just a few
dead enders. He ignored us.
   We told him that the Iraqi resistance wasn't just Owl
Kite-uh (bad spelling intentional). He ignored us.
   We told him that it was getting worse. He told us we were
painting lots of schools and ignored us.
   We told him to leave as soon as possible in 2004 because we
were making things worse. He ignored us.
   We told him to leave as soon as possible in 2005 because we
were making things worse. He ignored us.
   We told him that our troops were getting involved in a full
fledged civil war. He ignored us.
   We told him to leave as soon as possible in 2006 because
our troops were caught in a civil war and we were making
things worse. He ignored us.
   Voters told him in November, 2006 that they wanted out of
Iraq and that they wanted the Democratic party to lead the
way. He ignored them.
   This week, he accepted responsibility for the Iraqmire. But
he ignored his own admission and did not resign. Following in
Reagan's' footsteps I guess.
   So now he says we have to offer a plan? Why? He won't
listen to it anyway?

 

[OKNancy]

28. fantastic post

You should post this in GD as a stand-alone thread.

[murray hill farm]

32. I second that!

Great post! Welcome to DU

[beardown]

40. Okay, I wrote it in gd, I think

    Thanks for the comments. If there are any royalties, I'll
split it with you folks

[Spazito]

31. Great post! You have captured his hypocrisy in a nutshell!

Welcome to DU, a very impressive post.

[Frank Cannon]

33. Welcome to DU, beardown

And an awesome post, I must say. It really deserves its own thread. :hi:

[ninkasi]

34. Great post

I agree with OKNancy, this should have a thread of it's own. He refused to listen to any of us from the beginning. This is typical Bush behavior, screwing up things, and expecting other people to clean up his messes.

[mvd]

39. Welcome to DU - fantastic post!

:hi:

You'd think by now he'd listen, but he would take the country down the drain regardless of things that have gone wrong. The guy is about the most arrogant person who ever lived - and add some craziness in there to boot.

[lyonn]

48. Good post! Makes it look so simple,

Not simple if you have your personal war plans as bush obviously does and it has nothing to do with what comes out of his mouth. PNAC comes to mind, and add just plain ol' world domination, that appeals to him.

[Generator]

29. I never cursed this much until this thing happened to us

This man. I am so constantly aghast, angry and outraged at this >fill in your favorite expletive< I'm running out of words.

And the asshwipe implies, by saying "Members of Congress have a right to express their views, and express them forcefully", that I will ignore everything they say and do what I want anyway. He always has! That and the Baker commission, every expert alive, his own father, and everyone with a brain.

What part of the 99% Democrats and the 75% of Republicans saying for the last two days that "THERE IS NO MILITARY SOLUTION TO IRAQ ONLY A POLITICAL ONE THAT THE IRAQI's HAVE to MAKE" does he not understand????????????????

All Congress has the power to do is talk. He's the decider. He's the dictator. Wake up congress. HE is the problem. He is worse than Iraq. I really am beginning to think so. One man can ruin nations!

[tedzbear]

30. Here's one solution...

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/011207E.shtml


"My fellow Americans. Iraq is going to hell in a handbag. So the whole shebang doesn't collapse into mayhem and madness, we need to send in 21,000 more troops. So I've just wired King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and told him to send them."

"My missive to the monarch reads: Dear Abdullah. It's time your 16,000 princelings got out of their Rolls Royces and formed the core of an Islamic Peacekeeping Force to prevent mass murder in Iraq. The American people are tired of you using the 82d Airborne as your private mercenary army. It seems like the Saudi military's marching song is, 'Onward Christian Soldiers.'"

"Well, King Ab, we're out of here. We're folding tents and loading the wagons. For four years now, Saudis have been secretly funding the berserkers in the Iraqi 'insurgency' while the Iranians are backing the crazies in the militias. Well, we're telling you and the Persians: you're going to have to stop using your checkbooks to fund a proxy war and instead start keeping the peace. It's time you put your own tushies in the line of fire for a change."

[noahmijo]

35. To quell the violence between Catholics and Protestants in N. Ireland we must send 20000 Arab troops

to that region.

Oh what? you got a better plan? let's hear it!!!

[Imagevision]

36. So much for republicans and Dems working together, that's history as of today!!

Pelosi may seriously need to put impeachment back on the table ASAP!!

[Imagevision]

37. Bush: "I screwed up attacking Iraq and it's the Dems who must come up with a better solution

to get the troops out, Bush; "it'll be up to future presidents.

[lancdem]

38. They have

It's called withdrawal.

[IndianaGreen]

41. The alternative to Bush's surge that is on the table is the Iraq Study Group

and Bush has not only ignored it, but it has done the opposite of what ISG has recommended, such as his refusal to talk to Iran and Syria.

[Jack Rabbit]

42. OK. Impeach & remove Bush & Cheney; plan for an orderly withdrawal; negotiate with Iran & Syria

How's that for an alternative to Bush's plan?

[mogthemonk]

43. Er......why?

It's not the job of the opposition to make policy it's the job of the opposition to critique the President's policy, surely? Otherwise why doesn't the President just pack up and go home if he wants the opposition party to run the country for him?

[lovuian]

44. Get the Hell out of there

let them find their own governmnent

[gulliver]

47. We already have. Bush only wants an answer that helps Bush.

Any answer that means Bush goes down in history as a bad president is off limits, no matter how many lives it saves, no matter how good for the country. He didn't like the Iraq Study Group's alternative. He didn't like Murtha's approach or Clark's. Bush wants an approach that saves Bush. America be damned.

[54anickel]

50. Yup. Though his legacy appears to be safe. It's in othe process of being

purchased.

http://www.alternet.org/story/46526/

snip>

"Presidential libraries," the Daily News pointed out, "are run by the National Archives and Records Administration, but building costs must come from private donations. Bells and whistles, like an institute or an academic program like Bush's father's public service school at Texas A&M, are also extras."

The really big extra embedded into this project appears to be what Bush insiders are calling the Institute for Democracy. Modeled after the Hoover Institution, a long-time conservative think tank located on the campus of Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, Bush's institute would hire conservative scholars and "give them money to write papers and books favorable to the President's policies," one Bush insider told the Daily News. This would effectively be the post-administration version of a policy they established during his reign -- paying columnists to advocate for administration policy.

According to the newspaper, "The half-billion target is double what Bush raised for his 2004 reelection and dwarfs the funding of other presidential libraries. But Bush partisans are determined to have a massive pile of endowment cash to spread the gospel of a presidency that for now gets poor marks from many scholars and a majority of Americans."

While it may seem counter-intuitive, it isn't all that surprising that while Bush's popularity continues to plummet, and his administration's policies gain no traction with the American people, his handlers would already be hatching the mother of all redemption plans. Perhaps Bush's close advisors are hoping that he won't have to spend his entire post-presidency trying to rebuild his standing amongst the American people and history a la Richard Nixon.

more...

[lyonn]

49. This post needs some REC!!

Lot's of good stuff to read....

[donkeyotay]

52. I'm the Decider. I'm the President. You all are just a focus group.

I'm the commander in chief. George has never, media accounts to the contrary, taken responsiblity for anything. Near as I can tell, in his latest speech, he blamed his war's bad turns on the Iranians.

Bush should take responsiblity for ignoring every good piece of advice he's been given and instead listening to the neocon nutjobs who have been manuevering the US into a war with Iran for years now. (Google "real men go to Tehran") So, since bush wants me to be responsible for his war if I critcize, and make recommendations, I will. 1) Publish the members and agenda of Cheney's energy policy meetings. 2) Open up the records on defense contracting in Iraq. Discover who abused the system and where the money went. 3) Talk to and negotiate with every country that we have a problem with. 4) Check to see if we are doing things wrong/illegal/immoral that are exacerbating our problems with them, and consider doing something different beside bossing them around. 5) Try again to place oversight on the intelligence community, who has let our country down repeatedly despite an unlimited off-books budget... etc., and oh yeah, start withdrawing the troops now and resign.

Of course, the better alternative would have been to not lie and cheat to achieve this war. So, as much as you want to talk about looking forward, I don't see how you can find a better way forward if you don't understand where you've been.

[Harper_is_Bush]

53. What a fucknut. n/t

[rodeodance]

54. Bush demands critics offer alternative plan on Iraq

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070114/pl_afp/usiraqbushpolitics_070114004825

Bush demands critics offer alternative plan on Iraq

2 hours, 15 minutes ago



WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush warned opposition Democrats against cutting funds for the Iraq war, and challenged those who oppose his new plan to put an alternative on the table.


"Those who refuse to give this plan a chance to work have an obligation to offer an alternative that has a better chance for success. To oppose everything while proposing nothing is irresponsible," he said in his weekly radio address.

...............

He called his new plan "an important mission that will in large part determine the outcome in Iraq" and warned that "our brave troops should not have to wonder if their leaders in Washington will give them what they need."

"Whatever our differences on strategy and tactics, we all have a duty to ensure that our troops have what they need to succeed," the president said.

.............

"We recognize that many members of Congress are skeptical. Some say our approach is really just more troops for the same strategy. In fact, we have a new strategy with a new mission: helping secure the population, especially in Baghdad. Our plan puts Iraqis in the lead," said the president.

[Nezvanovich]

55. mmhmm

"stay the course" wrapped up in a different package says I.

[Wilms]

56. Here's my plan.

Leave now.

[VegasWolf]

69. That's the plan! "Bush, put down that oil barrel! Walk away from the barrel and leave Iraq now!"

See it's easy to save American lives once Cheney and dimson realize that they will NEVER get their greedy hands on another country's oil.

[bluedog]

57. whats this "demand" crap?

hes always demanding..daring.... challengeing...threatening.....warning us the citizens of the United States or other countries,.........his language has to stop.......hes not a GD dictator.........

[Red Fox]

58. You take responsibility and resign

Get off the stage, you've been on it for 6 years and it's been a mess for 6 years.

[OKNancy]

59. Uh, you posted this topic already

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2687415

[madrchsod]

60. yup fire up the trucks,load them up,and head south

get the warthogs and gunships to provide air cover and there ya go....

[opiate69]

61. Um.. hello.. Mr. Pretzelnut??

I believe there was an alternate plan.. maybe in fact several.. I think a bunch of guys you know compiled them in a report and called themselves the Iraq Study Group.. Good fucking god, how did we get such a blithering idiot in charge??

[Loge23]

62. Here's mine...

... how about we impeach your sorry ass and get our people out of the hellhole you put them in.

[Caution]

63. Ummm. How about the ISG's recommendations?

Just as a quick example and starting point for the little petulant prick.

[Roland99]

64. The Dems have been offering alternative plans for MONTHS!!

:mad:

[tularetom]

65. Ooh he demands

WTF is he gonna do, blow 'em up like he used to do to frogs. Go run home to mama little man.

[Harper_is_Bush]

66. Duplicate thread

[NotGivingUp]

67. FYMB....fuck you mr. bush

[Webster Green]

68. Just because the fucking corporate traitor fucking media doesn't..

fucking cover anything but the fucking puke fascist fucking nazi plans....

Oops....I've lost my train of thought.....where was I.....:mad:

[laststeamtrain]

70. I have a plan for bringing Terri Schiavo back from the dead

Saturday, January 13, 2007

I have a plan for bringing Terri Schiavo back from the dead
by John in DC - 1/13/2007 01:01:00 PM

I was watching "The Mummy 2" on the plane back from France, and I now have a plan for bringing Terri Schiavo back from the dead. I recognize that many are skeptical. And they have a right to express their views, and express them forcefully. But those who refuse to give this plan a chance to work have an obligation to offer an alternative that has a better chance for success. To oppose everything while proposing nothing is irresponsible.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2007/01/i-have-plan-for-bringing-terri-schiavo.html

[lligrd]

71. Just Like He Demanded His Daddy Get Him Out Of Jail

after his coke bust. The man is a pathetic wasted of space. My plan is to apologize to Iraqis and hand Bush over to them. How do you like them apples, chimp?

[Meldread]

72. Here is my plan:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3055570&mesg_id=3055570

I think the Democrats should take him up on that offer and come together to form a strategy for Iraq. Make him eat his words.

[EndElectoral]

73. This is ridiculous! What was the Iraq Study Group about? Wake up idiot!

[tabasco]

74. Somebody ask Bush when we know we've won.

And not any of this "when Iraq is a utopia" bullshit.

How about working on making America utopia before Iraq?

[VegasWolf]

75. My guess is is 30 years when Exxon and Haliburton have stolen Iraq's oil. nt