Trouble in the GOP: Hassert attacks McCain

[Thrill]

Looks like the fat guy is pissed because he can't get the votes to push the country further in debt.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41083-2004May19.html

[seattlesteph]

1. The latest GOP split is over whether to investigate abuse policies

www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com

Internal Republican bickering over strategy and oversight is amusing because it's largely inconsequential. Watching GOP leaders attack one another publicly over how to address military abuse policies, however, is more troubling than entertaining.

On Monday, the Senate Armed Forces Committee announced relative bi-partisan support for doing the right thing: the Committee would thoroughly investigate the systematic prisoner abuse scandal(s), no matter where it led.

The Armed Services Committee, led by 77-year-old Senate veteran John W. Warner of Virginia, has served noticed that it would not pull back, as the House Armed Services Committee has done. Instead, Warner plans extended hearings to call on the carpet such high-profile officials as Army Gen. John Abizaid, commander of U.S. troops in Iraq, and L. Paul Bremer III, head of the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority.
More disturbing still for the White House, Democrats and Republicans on the Senate committee say they will shift the focus from the misdeeds of a handful of guards at Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad. What they want to dig into instead is how senior Pentagon officials loosened the rules protecting prisoners during interrogation.


It was, to be sure, an encouraging development that told the public this is one scandal that wouldn't be swept under the rug. Committee members from both parties expressed a sincere commitment to get to the bottom of this.

Which is exactly why Republican leaders of the House Armed Services Committee, who prefer to see this matter ignored altogether, are so upset. In an unusually harsh public spat, the New York Times described GOP leaders as engaged in a "feud."

[Lefty Pragmatist]

2. A House vs. Senate Pissing Contest

This is the House rearing up on its Class of '92 hind legs and braying, and the Senate saying, "Um, yeah, good luck with that... now get me a drink."

It's nice to see a little internal GOP squabbling, but I believe this is much more about the natural rivalry in a bicameral legislature.

[Thrill]

3. He openly questioned McCain being Republican

Why? because he won't vote to put the country further in debt? These guys are a piece of Work.

[seattlesteph]

4. Really? I think it's a Party Split.

Moderates are being forced to defend themselves everywhere.

Look at the Toomey-Specter race in PA. Toomey attacked Specter for not being Republican enough. They're really off the deep end, and they're dragging this country - as well as Democrats, kicking and screaming - towards a cliff.

That Senate primary is being played out in Congress. It really is for control of the direction of the GOP. Because it's happening in a critical election year and usually they enforce party discipline with...(warning: off color joke) Abu Ghrahib-like methods.

[IndianaGreen]

5. Perhaps the GOP will be stupid enough to kick McCain out of the party

Such a purge will make McCain reconsider his refusal to join Kerry in a "unity" ticket.

[fujiyama]

6. LOL

There are times when I appreciate McCain -- like recently, when he rebuked Lieberman's comments about the prison torture...

Then there are times, when I believe he's some sort of masochist or nut job, like when he's defending Bush. I don't know how he can defend Bush after that nasty campaign Bush & Rove ran against McCain in '00.

[fujiyama]

7. OMG

I just read about that blubber butt lecturing McCain on sacrifice...

God if I were McCain I'd be tempted to sock that ass hole straight in the face...

And why the hell do people call Hastert personable? He has always seemed like just as big an ass hole as Tom DeLay.

[VOX]

8. McCain spent 5 1/2 years as a POW. He should flatten Hastert.

Democrats may disagree with McCain on a number of issues, but he is a throwback to the GOP of old, when there was still some honor among thieves.

Only a flaming asshole would confront McCain this way, and Hastert has proven himself worthy of the title.

Anytime Sen. McCain wants to change his party affiliation, I would welcome him. True, he'd be a hawk in the mold of Joe Lieberman, and would have to be dealt with as such, but nevertheless he'd be welcome.

[Old and In the Way]

9. Hastert carries this administration's water.

He proved that when he fought the 9/11 extension as cover for the WH. He is a gutless man selected to be speaker because he has a nice grandfatherly face and mallable political principles. What did he do to deserve House Speaker? What were his political accomplishments? Nothing. Perfect for this party.

[Andromeda]

10. After the House got rid of two speakers before him,

Newt Gingrich and Bob Livingstone, Hastert was the only repuke left who didn't have any skeletons in his closet.

[Hippo_Tron]

19. That was basically the reason he was chosen...

The Republicans realized their hypocrisy of trying to impeach Clinton while their own leaders were involved in scandals.

[dusty64]

11. So now they are attacking

each other. Its about time.

[i_c_a_White_Ghost]

12. Don't worry

Someone just gave that "bastard Hassert" a big mac and he shut up.

[WI_DEM]

13. My guess is Rove/Bush put him up to this attack

Hassert is usually non confrontational. I think they leaned on him to start in on McCain.

[bluedog]

14. hes an a**

what an idiot! He can't even possibly imagine the sacrifice involved in staying proud and strong in viet cong POW camps!?!

the GOP better watch out - this rift between moderates and hardliners is just going to mean trouble for them...and, of course, popcorn time for the rest of us....

[dogman]

15. This is why I have no respect for McCain!

He let Bush and Rove smear his wife and children and proceeded to bend over and say "Sir, May I have another?". Now he takes another beating from another chickenhawk. I understand he is a GOPer, but this is too much.

[SoonerShankle]

16. It's too easy to think McCain a coward....

Think though, wouldn't it be harder to swallow his pride in order to be able to complete his work in the senate as he's elected to do. He knew he would have to be able to work with this administration and still serve his constituents. Alienating the Bush administration in order to preserve his pride -- maybe this just didn't seem prudent. And there are differing views as to what would be cowardly here -- turn the other cheek or smack 'em back in the face....

And Hastert will pay for this anyway. The GOP is starting to act like the Dems in 93-94, before Gingrich's "Contract on America" coup. This is the beginning of the end....

United we stand; divided we fall. RIP GOP Majority!

:toast:

[dogman]

20. Why stay on Bushes campaign?

He has no future in the GOP beyond where he is now. Promoting Bush will not put him in anyone's good graces. Being a team player is fine if you are a part of the team. Either these decent minded GOPers will have to take a stand or go down with the ship. He needs to come out at some point and stand up for what is right. That is courage, that is patriotism.

[eissa]

17. Anyone interested in contacting McCain

and giving him your thoughts? I just did:

Ok, I'm not one of your constituients, nor even a republican for that matter. However, you're one of the few people on "the other side" who seems to have at least some sense, so the recent attack on you by Hastert has motivated me to write this to you. SWITCH OVER!! Let them have Zell, we really didn't like him anyway. Grab Olympia Snowe and come on over, or at least switch to Independent like Jeffords did when he saw his party self-destruct the way it has under this administration.

http://mccain.senate.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=Contact.Home

[Hippo_Tron]

18. I guess Lardboy is finally doing some mean talking for DeLay...

Maybe DeLay wants to start creating a "nice guy" image.
:eyes:

[Awsi Dooger]

21. I would hate to be Dennis Hastert's toilet

We're talking mammoth shits, in the Bobby Knight category. Loud and violent.

You can tell just by looking at him, as wide as any mountain range when he walked out of that simpleton pep talk with GW.