Gephardt Bashes Bush...Again
Democratic presidential contender Dick Gephardt was on a mission Sunday to convince Iowa Democrats that his support for the Iraq war is not only right but that staying in Iraq is absolutely essential to defending the United States. In campaign stops in western Iowa, Gephardt made the case for continued American involvement in Iraq just as eloquently and passionately as President Bush has in recent days.
“IF WE WALK out, we are going to have a terrorist training camp that will make Afghanistan look like a Sunday school picnic,” Gephardt heatedly told a crowd in Sioux City Sunday. “And if we want to have unending terrorism, here and across the world, then we just walk out and leave it in a total chaotic mess. … If we leave, the terrorists win and we are in big trouble. We have got to see this through.”
As Bush does in many of his statements, Gephardt melds the threat from Saddam loyalists in Iraq with the threat from al-Qaida.
...
“I’ve served with five presidents — he’s by far the worst,” he told a crowd of 50 people in Sioux City Sunday. “The more time you spend with him, the more you’re convinced he should not be president of the United States.”
Assessing the Iraq operation, he said, “It’s costing a billion dollars a week. We lost 16 people yesterday. We’re losing two or three people a day and he still hasn’t gotten the help that we need. This is a failure.”
Get the rest of the story from MSNBC.
Matt's Chat
Mr. Gephardt, you lack the vision, desire and determination that this country needs in order to protect itself from these terrorists. This hasn't been a walk in the park, the President told us that it wouldn't be and it hasn't been... Instead of critisizing the President, why don't you HELP him...imagine if instead of complaining that the President hasn't gotten us help, you could say I got the President and our nation the help that we needed. I know why you haven't done that...it's because the help wouldn't be there for you either. Or Mr. Dean. Or any of the other Democrats running for the presidency either.The only way that the President has failed us (and by us I mean the people of the planet Earth) is that hasn't convinced the world (and no Democrat could do this either) that terrorism is indeed a huge threat for the world. This isn't an "American problem." This is a problem with world implications. Our president has done better than any of these hopefuls and wannabes could ever have hoped to imagine. Our President pieced together a coalition of nations that were WILLING to answer the call. I can only think that these Democrats, Mr. Gephardt included, would have lacked the leadership to do what was neccessary.
If the Democrats ever hope to regain power, they have to stop the negativity and start getting back to being the party "of the people." It's not enough to bash the President. The people are not going to buy that. Democrats are going to have to start selling their ideas, if they have any (which I do not believe that they do). Mr. Gephardt has failed to do this.
Mark's Remarks
Matt, you are saying the truth. Mr. Gephardt, you have been one of the leading people to hogtie the Admin's requests for help. You are out there denouncing a commander in Chief during wartime. You are engaging in terrible actions sir, and you bring disgrace to your office with your lies and rhetoric. Mr. Gephardt, you sir, are just like the Dims who say one thing today and another tomorrow. If you and your party know what to do, then by all means make some moves and ask for resolutions. However, all I see is constant complaining...In other words, like liberal 'rats everywhere, sound and fury signifying nothing!
