Will White House listen to Lugar?

It’s long been suggested that the endgame in the Iraq war will start when a senior Republican senator turns on the White House. Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., made an important speech Monday night that fit the bill. The highest ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said, in part: "American strategy must adjust to the reality that sectarian factionalism will not abate anytime soon and probably cannot be controlled from the top." Trying to coax his president and his colleagues to change the nature of the debate away from surge vs. withdrawal, Lugar concluded: "We need to move Iraq policy beyond the politics of the moment and re-establish a broad consensus on the role of the United States in the Middle East." Will anybody listen?
Posted by Rhonda Holman

29 Comments

  1. leave
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 1:52 pm | Permalink

    why would the most corrupt administration listen to anyone now? They haven’t listened yet to anyone.

    They are vile

    (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070627/ap_on_go_pr_wh/eave...

    White House, Cheney’s office, subpoenaed

    By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer 12 minutes ago

    WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee subpoenaed the White House and Vice President Dick Cheney’s office Wednesday for documents relating to President Bush’s warrant-free eavesdropping program.

    Also named in subpoenas signed by committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., were the Justice Department and the National Security Council.

    The committee wants documents that might shed light on internal squabbles within the administration over the legality of the program, said a congressional official speaking on condition of anonymity because the subpoenas had not been made public.

    Leahy’s committee authorized the subpoenas previously as part of its sweeping investigation into how much influence the White House exerts over the Justice Department and its chief, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

    The probe, in its sixth month, began with an investigation into whether administration officials ordered the firings of eight federal prosecutors, for political reasons.

  2. Ben
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 2:22 pm | Permalink

    Will White House listen to Lugar?

    NO.

    But, maybe, just maybe, Lugar and Voinovich will be the first of many. Then the White House will have no choice.

    That is what it took with Nixon.

  3. delsol
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 2:23 pm | Permalink

    Listen?

    Listen?

    Listen?

    …Listen?

  4. fedup
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 2:32 pm | Permalink

    It’s been six years of not listening to anyone, so why would the Bush gang listen to Lugar?

    The better question would be, how many more Republicans will listen to Lugar and stop their support of Bush’s gang? That movement will be more telling as to what happens to Bush and his partners in crime.

  5. fleettwood
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 2:35 pm | Permalink

    “…maybe, Lugar and Voinovich will be the first of many.”

    The Senate has 49 Repubs. Five of them are off the reservation (Snowe- Idiot, Washington and Smith- RINO, Oregon don’t count)That leaves 44 Repubs left. Why isn’t that the headline?

  6. Posted June 27, 2007 at 2:40 pm | Permalink

    fleettwood,

    The issue is Iraq.

    Lugar is “The highest ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee”.

  7. Posted June 27, 2007 at 3:03 pm | Permalink

    “We need to move Iraq policy beyond the politics of the moment and re-establish a broad consensus on the role of the United States in the Middle East.”

    What is that supposed to mean?

    As President Clinton said about Iraq,”Or we can take some ambiguous third route.”

  8. Ed Friedemann
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 3:18 pm | Permalink

    “”We need to move Iraq policy beyond the politics of the moment and re-establish a broad consensus on the role of the United States in the Middle East.”

    “What is that supposed to mean?”

    The United States Foreign Policy is establishing “Greater Israel” to include every country in the Middle East, according to an supposed antique Map which Bush gave to then PM Ariel Sharon { most likely a modern day a forgery }.

    Right now the United States is engaging its military in breaking down all resistance to that goal.

    And that boys and girls is what you’re not supposed to know.

  9. Ed Friedemann
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 3:28 pm | Permalink

    When I “work wording” extra words wind-up added and When I “proof read” I’ll slide right over those mistakes.

    Second take:

    “We need to move Iraq policy beyond the politics of the moment and re-establish a broad consensus on the role of the United States in the Middle East.”

    “What is that supposed to mean?”

    United States Foreign Policy is establishing “Greater Israel” to include every country in the Middle East, according to a supposed antique Map, which Bush gave to then PM Ariel Sharon { most likely a modern day forgery }.

    Right now the United States is engaging its military in breaking down all resistance to that goal.

    And that boys and girls is what you’re not supposed to know.

  10. Daniel
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 3:32 pm | Permalink

    Here in NYC the comments of the majorty of your readers is very common, and I share them. It’s refreshing to hear them from my native midwest; I grew up in Dick Lugar’s home state of Indiana. If my trip home to the Indy 500 last month is any indication then Bush should listen. Repubs. in the reddest of states, IN. are ashamed and disgusted with the whole Bush crowd. And IN. Gov, an ex-Bushie, will be he first to go down.

  11. XXX
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 4:00 pm | Permalink

    The Constitution and the American people never intended a runaway rogue presidency. There’ll be a price to be paid for the antics of BushCo. To bad for the GOP, republicans in general will be left holding the bag by the Worst. President. Ever.

  12. sgt. slaughter
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 4:13 pm | Permalink

    Pornography??? Damn!!

    Heck, the problem is not just with the clown in the White House. The dems, for the most part went along with the Iraq war, they signed onto the “Patriot” Act without even reading the thing, and now most dems are joining with shrub to pass the Nation destroying beaner amnesty.

    The new, pelosi led congress was supposed to make a difference, remember? What a joke, they took impeachment off the table, and enabled the traitor in chief with support for more free trade nonsense and amnesty for criminal invaders. The whole system is corrupt, incompetent, cowardly and broken.

  13. mp
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 4:47 pm | Permalink

    “There’ll be a price to be paid for the antics of BushCo.”

    Yeah, and we’re paying it right now.

  14. Dan
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 5:30 pm | Permalink

    You people need to be more careful about your posts. Your ignorance is showing.

  15. WSClark
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 5:39 pm | Permalink

    Were you referring to Republank, Dan?

  16. Posted June 27, 2007 at 5:48 pm | Permalink

    Well, as Barbara over at http://www.mahablog.com points out, Lugar’s spokesperson also said the following:

    “However, Fisher said the speech does not mean Lugar would switch his vote on the war or embrace Democratic measures setting a deadline for troop withdrawals.”

    http://www.chestertontribune.com/Indiana%20News/6263%20lugar_says_iraq_plan_not_working.htm

    Senator Lugar, talk is cheap, and time is growing short to do anything about Iraq in 2008. When Majority Leader Reid introduces some resolutions next month, we’ll see whether Senators Lugar and Voinovich are willing to put their money where their mouths are.

  17. Posted June 27, 2007 at 6:48 pm | Permalink

    Listen? Bush listens to no one except Cheney. Bush is like the good little puppet, when Cheney speaks, Bush’s lips move.

  18. Steven Davis
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 7:15 pm | Permalink

    The problem that Bush apologists have with Lugar’s statement is that they are unable say that his dissent is merely politics - their favored way of discrediting anybody (this coming from people who only have politics and NO discernable policy). Lugar was just elected in ‘06 and ran unopposed. He is very popular in Indiana. So, it is not a close election looming that is motivating his dissent.

  19. mrcontroversy
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 7:25 pm | Permalink

    Fleet enema, you don’t know Senator Snowe or Senator Smith.BTW, Senator Snowe is from Maine, but you have yet to prove you could double your intelligence and even qualify as a half wit.I have met both of them, and found them fantastic individuals to work with on legislative issues. I have found both of them to be open-minded, active listeners, and respectful to all opinions.But wait, that doesn’t make a very good Republican in your eyes, does it?

  20. Patriot
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 7:27 pm | Permalink

    Snow and Smith are a rare breed - patriotic Republicans. That has almost become an oxy-moron.

  21. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 8:34 pm | Permalink

    Dont forget Hagel.

    And as for listening, the shrubster has already said he doesnt care if no one agrees with him but Barney and laura.

    And I hear Barney has placed a call to Amnesty International requesting placement in a no-kill pet shelter…

  22. Kev
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 8:34 pm | Permalink

    “The Senate has 49 Repubs. Five of them are off the reservation (Snowe- Idiot, Washington and Smith- RINO, Oregon don’t count)”

    Hopefully 5 that will either SEE the LIGHT and switch party OR 5 that will be swept into the dust bin of history when they are up for re-election. My hope is that Snowe and Smith will not make the same mistake as Chaffee and go down with the Titanic GOP. I kind of liked Senator Lincoln Chafee. I wish he would have come out and did like Bloomberg and said “effective today I am leaving the Republican party and becoming an independent or Democrat”. If he did he would probably still be in the Senate. I kind of like Snowe too and hope she sees the light and gets off the Titanic before it is too late. We Democrats would welcome her.

  23. fleettwood
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 8:35 pm | Permalink

    “Fleet enema, you don’t know Senator Snowe or Senator Smith.”

    They are both idiots Period

  24. fleettwood
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 8:36 pm | Permalink

    “I kind of like Snowe too”posted by kev

    I rest my case.

  25. Kev
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 8:40 pm | Permalink

    “I have met both of them, and found them fantastic individuals to work with on legislative issues. I have found both of them to be open-minded, active listeners, and respectful to all opinions.But wait, that doesn’t make a very good Republican in your eyes, does it?”

    And in the eyes of most Republicans. Most of them hate people like Snowe. They even eat their own kind. Tonight, right here in Atlanta, there were hundreds of conservatives raising hell outside of Senator Johnny Isakson’s office over his dealings with the immigration and amnesty bill. It was broadcast live here on Hate Radio 750 WSB and these folks called him every kind of vile name you could imagine. They had to use the bleep on the broadcast at times! And Johnny Isakson is about as con as you can get! And they went after Trent Lott too. Another neo con idiot.

  26. sgt. slaughter
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 8:43 pm | Permalink

    Lots of polarisation in the country, con. vs. lib, dem vs. rep, black vs. white vs. latino, and the rich vs. everyone else. Such hardening of the lines is a recipe for big trouble.

  27. Ben
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 8:51 pm | Permalink

    Yep, and calls for violence only harden them further. For example, wishing the NYTimes people were all murdered.

  28. The Phantom
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 9:15 pm | Permalink

    The White House will listen neither to Lugar, or Logic.

  29. Steven Davis
    Posted June 27, 2007 at 11:22 pm | Permalink

    “Fleet enema, you don’t know Senator Snowe or Senator Smith.”

    They are both idiots Period

    Posted by: fleettwood | June 27, 2007 at 08:35 PM

    This extremely dumb asshole wouldn’t know the truth if it hit in the face. He is on ignore for any poster who knows anything. For those who don’t, fleetie is a WOBblie - W (walk) O (on) B (by) b (boy); l-i-e - shouldn’t be hard to figure out.