White Flag Rising Update

AP News Alert:

WASHINGTON (AP) For the first time, the Senate has signaled support for a non-binding timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

What is it about the word "victory" does this Congress not understand?

Reid: Republicans Endorse the President's Iraq Policies

From PR/US Newswire:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released the following statement on a landmark vote in the United States Senate on whether to change the course of the war in Iraq.

"Today's vote demonstrated the difference between Democrats and Republicans in the United States Senate. Democrats believe that our troops should not be policing a civil war, that Iraq must take responsibility for its own future, and that our troops should begin to come home. Senate Republicans support President Bush's plan to commit more men and women to policing an open-ended civil war. For months, Democrats have pushed for a vote on the most important issue facing this country. Today was one step. We will not stop until President Bush and Senate Republicans listen to the American people and change course in Iraq."

Harry is right...this vote clearly demonstrates the difference between Republicans and Democrats...Democrats want to lose this war and surrender to our Islamofascist enemy as quickly as possible; Republicans would rather we win it using General Petreaus's plan that the President has signed off on...

Ron Paul

From PR/US Newswire:

Congressman Ron Paul (R- Texas) announced and discussed his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president of the United States this morning on C-SPAN's Washington Journal program. Afterwards, paperwork was filed with the Federal Election Commission.

"The American people now have a real conservative in the race for president they can support," stated Kent Snyder, chairman of the Ron Paul 2008 committee. He added, "Congressman Paul has a long and consistent record of a true conservative; a record we are eager to put against any candidate for the Republican nomination."

This White Flag Republican is not worthy of the office.

He announced on C-SPAN. C-SPAN! Was anyone watching???

RINOvich and the Surge

In a ridiculous piece on Cleveland Plain Dealer's Openers blog about a protest featuring a grand total of...wait for it...15 people bugging the senator's staff in Columbus last week, is this bit that should be cause for alarm:

"They understand he is against the surge but then on Saturday he voted against the House resolution," said Chris Paulitz, a Voinovich spokesman, who admits the Senator's voting record on this issue might be confusing but his intent clear. "We tried to explain to them that the reason he voted against the House resolution is because it's kind of a dumbed-down resolution. It stifles debate. He didn't vote for the surge, he voted to continue debating Iraq."

Ohioans support Victory. At some point the standard bearers for the Ohio GOP are going to get the message... We need a consensus candidate for conservatives to support when RINOvich is up for re-election.....

The Surge in Quiet

The surge strategy seems to be working. Aside from a few suicide bombers, insurgent activity in Baghdad appears to be down. How do I know? Well, perhaps I should let Patrick Ruffini explain:

This turnaround in Baghdad is confirmed at home by the media's near-deafening silence. If it seems like you've heard less about how Iraq is spiraling into civil war in the weeks since the surge was announced, this is why. Even some discordant voices in the media are starting to wonder what's happening. Time magazine worries that it's "Quiet in Baghdad. Too quiet." That's right -- a dramatic reduction in violence is actually bad news.

If that analysis doesn't wake you up to which side the media is on, nothing will...

Here are a few factoids to support the theory:

Early indications are that the troop surge into Baghdad is working. It hasn't been reported on widely, but murders in Baghdad are down 70%, attacks are down 80%, Mahdi Army chief Moqtada al-Sadr has reportedly made off for Iran, and many Baghdadis who had fled the violence now feel it's safe enough to return.

However, Patrick offers these words of caution that are well worth keeping in mind:

It's too early to claim victory just yet; the operation is just two weeks old. But U.S. troops have been able to accomplish all of this with just one more brigade in-country, with four more on the way by May. These encouraging early returns show the potential for success when we apply concentrated military force to the security problem. When the Army and Marine Corps are on offense, carrying out combat operations and clearing out insurgent strongholds, we win. When we lay back, carrying out routine patrols and playing Baghdad beat cop, we lose.

The surge strategy seems to off to a great start and the Democrats in Congress are doing their very best to muck it up in high fashion.

Never give up. Never surrender. Victory is the only option.

UPDATE: In his email to me on the subject, BizzyBlog says: "That's the good news. The bad news to me is that this is beginning to prove that Rumsfeld & Co. were really flailing away and didn't know what they were doing the past 2-3 years -- and you can quote me if you want." Okay, I will. And I'll go ahead and say what Tom won't...it looks like Rumsfeld and the administration knew that the previous strategy wasn't working and were too concerned about the election to do anything about it.

If there is one thing that every first term President wants, it is a second term. I think there were a number of politicos who thought that letting Rumsfeld go during an election cycle would have been seen as a sign of weakness for the administration. I think there was a time and a place for Rumsfeld; but once it became clear that things were not progressing as they should, one his offers of resignation should have been accepted.

Both sides of the aisle have been politicizing this war and it needs to stop. Americans need to get serious about this war or there is a very good chance that we will lose it. The consequences of defeat are not pretty for western civilization so we had better get with the program real quick...

Note to Minority Leader John Boehner

I am somewhat disturbed by something that I have been noticing a bit more frequently in the Minority Leader, my Congressman, and a Great American, John Boehner... Let me show you an example from the Seattle Times:

House Minority Leader John Boehner tells Republicans to be independent and has told the caucus, "The American people couldn't care less which party is in control."

But the American people do care, Congressman, they care a great deal. Republicans didn't lose the majority because the American people don't care who is in control of Congress...

One of the things that the Democrats do fairly well is maintain party discipline and I think that is a trait that the Republicans have long needed. For example, I don't think it is too much to ask the Republicans in Congress to act like Republicans on the war issue. The GOP are supposed to be the grown-ups on national security, yet nothing will happen to Rep. Steve LaTourette and the other 16 White Flag Republicans who thought it would be a good idea to cut and run from Iraq. The Victory Caucus is watching...

John Kasich wrote a book called State for Something. I'd like to think that the Republican Party still stands for something...although I must admit that it is getting harder to tell just what exactly they do stand for... We need strong leadership on the issues of the day if the Republicans are ever to regain the majority in Congress.

Boehner's Letter to House Republicans

Letter from Rep. Boehner to House Republicans received via email:

Dear House Republican Colleague:

Sometimes you can lose the vote, but win the debate. That’s what I think happened this week and today in our debate on the Democrats’ resolution on Iraq . They won the vote, but they won by a far smaller margin than most predicted – and Republicans clearly won the debate. Our speakers were principled and passionate. And for the first time we really showed the American people the full scope of the Global War on Terror and the consequences of withdrawing from it. We were able to define the Democrats’ resolution for what it really is: the first step in their effort to cut off funding for our troops and turn tail in the War on Terror.

And the Democrats saw it too. You didn’t have to look any further than their muted response when our colleague Sam Johnson gave one of the great speeches I’ve ever seen on the House floor. Sam countered the Democrats’ rhetoric with an expression of principle and love for country that I hope moved you as much as it did me. Americans want principled leadership above all else in these challenging times, and this week they saw it in House Republicans.

So, thank you – for working together as a team; for embracing principle and commitment; for speaking your heart, and doing the hard, substantive work that winning the debate requires. (And to those who supported the resolution: thank you, too, for doing what you think in your hearts is right.) Everyone this week did their part and more. I’m proud of us as a team, and proud of the showing we made this week on a truly historic debate.



Sincerely,



John Boehner

I wonder if he bothered sending it to LaTourette?

Boehner on Murtha's Plan to "Choke Off" the Funding to America's Troops in Harm's Way

Via email:

Congressman John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement today regarding a plan put forth by Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) on behalf of House Democrats that would choke off funding for American troops fighting the Global War on Terror:

“While Rep. Murtha is unveiling his plan to choke off funding for American troops serving in harm’s way, Republicans like Rep. Sam Johnson – a distinguished Vietnam War veteran – are on the House floor explaining the demoralizing impact that the majority’s political maneuvers will have on our men and women in uniform. House Democrats have called their non-binding resolution on Iraq a ‘first step.’ Today Rep. Murtha is unveiling the next step: a plan to cut off funding for troops in harm’s way by making sure the reinforcements they need to complete their mission in Iraq never arrive.

“While American troops are fighting radical Islamic terrorists thousands of miles away, it is unthinkable that the United States Congress would move to discredit their mission, cut off their reinforcements, and deny them the resources they need to succeed and return home safely. The American people will not support a strategy that involves pulling the rug out from under American troops in the combat zone by cutting off their reinforcements and forcing them to face the enemy without our full support.”

The question remains: Will the House Republican leadership do what is neccessary to ensure that the White Flag Republicans ranks are as small as possible? Has Rep. Boehner had a word with Congressman LaTourette, for example? The Victory Caucus is watching...

Democrats Aim to "Choke Off" Funding for American Troops on Harm's Way

Via email:

As the Washington Post noted this morning, the plans of House Democrats to "choke off" funding for our men and women in uniform are hardly a mystery:

"The idea is to slowly choke off the war by stopping the deployment of troops..."

The backdrop for this news will be an online press conference held by Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) today where he will outline his strategy for choking off funding for American troops in combat, hamstringing their efforts to succeed in the Global War on Terror. A press release says Murtha's plan "promises to be the Congressional 'bite' following this week's non-binding resolution 'bark'." The Politico described it as a "slow-bleed strategy" designed to hamstring our military's ability to defend America against al Qaeda.

House Democrats too numerous to count have called their non-binding resolution criticizing the new strategy for success in Iraq a "first step." Today Rep. Murtha will unveil the next step: a plan to cut off funding for troops in harm's way by making sure the reinforcements they need to complete their mission in Iraq never arrive.

Yesterday President Bush made clear that Congress must fund America 's troops who are in harm's way:

"Now, I'm going to make it very clear to Members of Congress starting now that they need to fund our troops and they need to make sure we have the flexibility necessary to get the job done."

And Republican Leader John Boehner reinforced House Republicans' commitment to providing our troops the resources necessary to succeed in Iraq:

"House Republicans remain committed to victory in Iraq, and to providing our troops in harm's way with the resources and funding necessary to complete their mission."

The irony today will be thick. As Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) announces his plans to cut off funding for American troops serving in harm's way, Republicans like Rep. Sam Johnson - a distinguished Vietnam War veteran and former POW - will lead a block of time on the House floor for American veterans to explain the demoralizing impact Democrats' political games have on our men and women in uniform.

Let's not forget that there are a few White Flag Republicans out there like Ohio's own Steve LaTourette. The Victory Caucus is watching... Will the Republican leadership be strong enough to enact consequences for these White Flag Republicans? Will the House leadership do as good of a job as the Senate leadership on this issue? The Victory Caucus is watching...

Victory Caucus

The NRSC Pledge group is now The Victory Caucus. Check 'em out!