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August 31, 2007
Slimed By Our Own Words and Deeds!!!!
Sacre bleu! Insolent peasants - don't they know who I am?
The sheets of paper seemed to be everywhere the lawmakers went in the Green Zone, distributed to Iraqi officials, U.S. officials and uniformed military of no particular rank. So when Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.) asked a soldier last weekend just what he was holding, the congressman was taken aback to find out.In the soldier's hand was a thumbnail biography, distributed before each of the congressmen's meetings in Baghdad, which let meeting participants such as that soldier know where each of the lawmakers stands on the war. "Moran on Iraq policy," read one section, going on to cite some the congressman's most incendiary statements, such as, "This has been the worst foreign policy fiasco in American history."
The bio of Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher (D-Calif.) -- "TAU (rhymes with 'now')-sher," the bio helpfully relates -- was no less pointed, even if she once supported the war and has taken heat from liberal Bay Area constituents who remain wary of her position. "Our forces are caught in the middle of an escalating sectarian conflict in Iraq, with no end in sight," the bio quotes.
"This is beyond parsing. This is being slimed in the Green Zone," Tauscher said of her bio
If you're feeling "slimed" by your own words and deeds, Ms. TAU-sher (rhymes with "her"), perhaps that's because you've done or said something slimy. Pardon me, but wasn't it the contention of some of your liberal Brethren in Christ that our poor, option-less military youth were "stuck in dead end military jobs" because they didn't have enough information to make better choices? In that case, I should think you'd be ecstatic that they're trying to become better informed citizens.
You know what they say. Knowledge is power. Aren't you proud of your record on the war? Or do you have something to hide?
Brief, choreographed and carefully controlled, the codels (short for congressional delegations) often have showed only what the Pentagon and the Bush administration have wanted the lawmakers to see. At one point, as Moran, Tauscher and Rep. Jon Porter (R-Nev.) were heading to lunch in the fortified Green Zone, an American urgently tried to get their attention, apparently to voice concerns about the war effort, the participants said. Security whisked the man away before he could make his point.Tauscher called it "the Green Zone fog."
As opposed to the fog you're trying to blow over this issue. Why shouldn't our armed forces have full access to your quotes and voting records? Or do you want control over the information they're allowed to to see?
"Spin City," Moran grumbled. "The Iraqis and the Americans were all singing from the same song sheet, and it was deliberately manipulated."But even such tight control could not always filter out the bizarre world inside the barricades. At one point, the three were trying to discuss the state of Iraqi security forces with Iraq's national security adviser, Mowaffak al-Rubaie, but the large, flat-panel television set facing the official proved to be a distraction. Rubaie was watching children's cartoons.
When Moran asked him to turn it off, Rubaie protested with a laugh and said, "But this is my favorite television show," Moran recalled.
Porter confirmed the incident, although he tried to paint the scene in the best light, noting that at least they had electricity.
"I don't disagree it was an odd moment, but I did take a deep breath and say, 'Wait a minute, at least they are using the latest technology, and they are monitoring the world,' " Porter said. "But, yes, it was pretty annoying."
Yes. I imagine the trip was annoying on any number of levels. It's always annoying when things don't conform to your expectations.
Posted by Cassandra at August 31, 2007 06:55 PM
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Comments
No fear for them, though, as the liberal media, and the likes of Think Progress, will spin it their way.
Posted by: William Teach at August 31, 2007 06:54 PM
"It's always annoying when things don't conform to your expectations."
Or when people fail to prostrate themselves at my feet. How in the world do they expect me to maintain the spit shine on my shoes without their lavish fawning?
Posted by: Silky Pony at August 31, 2007 06:59 PM
Tauscher's actually a moderate, who's been attacked by the hardline left forces. Maybe she's trying to get in good with her constituents?
Here's my latest, on FireDogLake's most recent attack on the "Bush/Cheney warmongerers":
http://burkeanreflections.blogspot.com/2007/08/coming-bushcheney-war-against-iran.html
Posted by: Donald Douglas at August 31, 2007 07:10 PM
Insolent peasants - don't they know who I am?
They do now...
Posted by: BillT at August 31, 2007 07:11 PM
I'll bet you cherry-picker Ellen O. Tauscher because she's a blonde.
Keeeeeep pushing...
Posted by: BillT at August 31, 2007 07:33 PM
Ellen, here's some friendly advice. TAKE A FREAKING STANCE ON IRAQ AND FREAKING STICK TO IT.
That's the secret.
If you notice, the patriarch Harry Ried is getting his ass fried right now because he was gutless on Iraq.
Wake the freaking hudeehoo up.
Posted by: Jeff at August 31, 2007 08:37 PM
It wouldn't take much from Saddam's minders to fool such folks.
Posted by: Ymarsakar at August 31, 2007 09:29 PM
Well shucks, if I were an Iraqi official (one of the many who've been slimed by our leading lights in Congress) and I had a choice between watching children's cartoons and listening to one of these Congressional buffoons, I'd be concentrating on the Iraqi Rockey Raccoon or whatever was on the tube. Lady, you've been "dissed"--and you had it coming.
Wonder what the dude would have done to Pelosi?
Posted by: Mike Myers at August 31, 2007 10:04 PM
Wonder what the dude would have done to Pelosi?
A Continuous loop of Farfle singing, "En - ee - ess - tee - ell - ee - ess..."
Leaving the unspoken message, "Hon, I'd sooner listen to a fifty-year old sock puppet chortle the merits of a product I'll never use than give you the opportunity to get the air hotter than it already is."
Posted by: BillT at August 31, 2007 10:47 PM
i LOVE the part about the official watching the cartoons!
CLASSIC
Posted by: C. Jordan at September 1, 2007 12:47 AM
I believe the concept Moran and Tauscher are struggling with is accountablilty.
Congresscritters, these are the folks you've thrown under the bus in order to please your base and/or your party.
The bruise will fade, I'm sure...
Posted by: Carrie at September 1, 2007 08:19 AM
Okay, here is an analogy: He is monitoring the world with the latest technology by watching a cartoon?
Why are they upset about the troops (who are puppy kicking mean spirited poopy heads but I support them) knowing the delegates' stands on the Yssues? (rhetorical question, no answer needed) Could it be that finally, their hyperbole has come home to roost?
Nah. IT IS CENSORSHIP and BRAINWASHING! Yeah, the Shrub has done it again...gotten to the troops and used the Rove Remote to rewire their brains. Karl left Bush with one just for laughs and giggles.
Posted by: Cricket at September 1, 2007 10:23 AM
Actually I am amused, those people have been Swiftboated.
Swiftboating occurs when somebody tells the truth about you and you don't like it.
Posted by: We are not amused at September 3, 2007 09:38 AM
That is brilliant :p
I think I just spit out my coffee.
Posted by: Cassandra at September 3, 2007 10:38 AM
I like it. :-)
Posted by: camojack at September 4, 2007 01:24 AM