Daily Kos

See the Mehlman Statement from the RNC

by lecsmith

Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:09:39 PM PDT

Elected Democrats, all Democrats, all people who cannot stand these fascist liars, you must speak up now and repudiate these vile people.

This was all planned. They set this up so that they could release these quotes. Here is their supposed weapon:

Mehlman Statement

It doesn't matter. If the bulk of Americans really feel that the Bush/Rove/Cheney path is the right way to go, then they should stick with it.

Stick with Bush/Rove/Cheney. Don't say we didn't warn you loudly and clearly day after day, almost every minute from the day this faker assumed his presidency. Except we did very generously forgive his incompetence and give him a chance after 9/11.

If you stick with them, you deserve everything you get.

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Permalink | 87 comments

  •  If Republicans had honor (none / 0)

    If Republicans had honor they would rebuke Mehlman for throwing gasoline on the fire.

    If you are interested in the politics of Proviso Township in Cook County, Illinois, visit Proviso Probe.

    by Carl Nyberg on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:11:51 PM PDT

    •  not getting it (4.00 / 2)

      Karl Rove laid down the gasoline for Mehlman to light with this match.

      "Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." -- Adlai E. Stevenson

      by eebee on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:12:44 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Yup. (none / 0)

        This was a setup. And I don't feel so well right now.

        I know we need to fight, but I do feel discouraged right now.

        Misled Into War: A Timeline/DowningStreetMemo.com

        by highacidity on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:16:11 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  You know what, with them. It is ALWAYS (none / 0)

          a setup. What Rove said was odious and despicable. We should still point it out because it's still true. Even if all they wanted to do was to have a pretext for releasing their little quotes.

          Corporate Media: Republicans are their base.

          by lecsmith on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:18:58 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  Always think three moves ahead (4.00 / 2)

          They do it, and we need to.

          Regardless, from here on out, no one should apologize for anything.  Period.

          The Republican Party: the party of greed, hate, anger, fear, waste, death and destruction!

          by ultrageek on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:30:17 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  The thing is (none / 0)

          we don't have to go away! Just because he got today focused on him we should start a whole new flood of calls reminding them about the Downing Street Memo, we should write "all" the media today and tomorrow and let them now we're still here. Remind them why Rove is coming out like this and turn it right back on them. Although the elections kicked up our side a bit we've been way to silent when things like this happen, their just not used to us fighting back so hard. That's why he did this, to stifle us and distract us , but he can't! Nail them with everything we've got and turn up the volume!!!

          by nicky on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 03:31:31 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

      •  Bull (none / 1)

        This is the exact same shit Republicans say day in, day out. They always bash Michael Moore, Soros, etc. Most of these quotes are taken from other press releases they've issued.

        It took them an entire day to put this together. They were not planning this - Rove expected to give his usual red meat "liberals love terrorists" speech without consquence.

        by daveweigel on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:16:51 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  I think it was set up. (none / 0)

          I also think it's pretty lame and won't work.  I think it was on purpose because Rove used the specific language from the quotes.  But you could be right also, he might have just used that language because they all know it by heart.

          "Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." -- Adlai E. Stevenson

          by eebee on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:30:12 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  You're both right (4.00 / 6)

            This was preplanned, but it's lame and won't work.  Look, this is all they've got people.

            They don't have a plan for Social Security.  They don't have a plan for Iraq.  They don't have a plan for North Korea.  They don't have a plan for energy independence.  They don't have a plan for income inequality or economic growth.  They don't have a plan for trade imbalance.  They don't have a plan for anything that means anything to any but a handful of rich Americans.

            This is ALL THEY'VE GOT.  

            Look, think of those quotes and MoveOn and Michael Moore quotes as the muscle and tendons that have held the Republican machine together as the rhetoric of the cheerleaders.  Their policies were the fat.  Well, they've burned through the fat, and now they're burning the rest of the body to feed the beast.  They've elevated name-calling to the policy of the Republican National Committee.

            They have NOTHING.

            "Don't falme me pleas."

            by socratic on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:42:12 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  Agree. (4.00 / 2)

              At this point, I'm just having fun placing bets with myself as to what their next move is.  If this was planned, given that it's hitting the fan on a Thursday afternoon, I'm thinking that maybe they're going to dump something really bad (for them) in the news on Friday, and this is a preparatory distraction.  I'm giving it better than 50% chance that there's a big story buried in the Friday press releases.

              "Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." -- Adlai E. Stevenson

              by eebee on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:52:35 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

            •  PS, I'm sorry to yell (4.00 / 2)

              But there's a lot of hand-waving on this thread.  "OH NOES! THEY TRIXED US!!!"  Ok, well, this Republican strategy is like the bad child pulling out Dad's chair at the dinner table.  It might have been funny the first time, but the joke is wearing thin.

              So, maybe our formal response should be, "It's clear the Republican Party has no useful ideas for America.  They've frittered away their control over the presidency and both houses of Congress because they didn't have any ideas in the first place.  It's time for a change.  Oh, and Karl Rove should still apologize."

              "Don't falme me pleas."

              by socratic on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:54:36 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

            •  Thanks for the pick-me up... (none / 0)

              ... socratic. Right you are. This is simply an indication of how much their situation is deteriorating. I will get back to work now,   to help make things even worse for them :-)

              Misled Into War: A Timeline/DowningStreetMemo.com

              by highacidity on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:57:53 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

            •  Agree Socratic (none / 0)

              this last week they've tried it out on the media, Bush blaming Dems on obstucting in Congress, the Gitmo diet, the Durbin sigh's, Cheney saying we've turned a corner, and now Rove calling us wanna be therapy lovers. Nope. Their feeling the heat and their trying to drown it out. Time for action on our side! Time for mass emails, calls, letters, to the media and refocus the attention. I think the media might be surprised because I think they've presumed us to be weak on fighting back. Time to surprise them.

              by nicky on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 03:36:54 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

              •  I couldn't agree more (none / 0)

                But, I do want to point out that the press is starting to smell blood in the water.  The "give 'em rope to hang themselves" strategy is working rather well for us, and while we should continue to point out their failings, we should also let them keep charging into the ramparts, as it were.

                "Don't falme me pleas."

                by socratic on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 03:41:04 PM PDT

                [ Parent ]

                •  (also, (none / 0)

                  I realize I'm being somewhat inconsistent with some of my other comments urging vicious attack against them, but, hell, I can't decide which of two good directions to take to deal with these little wankers.)

                  "Don't falme me pleas."

                  by socratic on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 03:46:00 PM PDT

                  [ Parent ]

  •  Rats. (none / 0)

    You mean there was a plan, and Rove knew that? Dang. I'm gonna remember that about this guy next time.

    by Kagro X on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:12:16 PM PDT

  •  Yup.... (none / 1)

    I bloody knew they were going to take this stand.

    Within a few hours they have a whole list of quotes. They planned it, played the rope a dope as another diarist said.

    We have to fight now, it's a showdown.

    by back2basics on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:12:46 PM PDT

    •  See my comment above (none / 1)

      It's not a showdown.  These folks are acting like a surrounded, beaten army.  They're out of ammunition (policy choices for America), so they're throwing cooks into battle with pots and pans for weapons (using name-calling).

      Attack.  We have to attack without mercy, maintain the moral and policy high ground, and end this bullshit.

      "Don't falme me pleas."

      by socratic on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:46:15 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  its pretty sad (none / 0)

    that this worked so well for Rove.

    its also in general that great strategy is only thinking one political step ahead.

    by thisisnotadrill on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:13:12 PM PDT

    •  I'm not entirely sure it will end up working (4.00 / 3)

      well for him. I think people are getting fed up, the objective reality of this failed presidency is there for all to see, and Bush Rove Cheney have no answer except the same lies and manipulation.

      Corporate Media: Republicans are their base.

      by lecsmith on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:20:54 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Into the penalty box! (none / 1)

      This hasn't "worked well for Rove."  This "exposes the desperate lengths to which a party that is devoid of any viable public policies will go to create divisions to benefit itself rather than to create consensus and unity that benefits us all."

      "Don't falme me pleas."

      by socratic on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:33:25 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  They didn't put that together between (4.00 / 3)

    the time Rove made his remarks and today.

    That was ready and waiting for release in anticipation of Rove's remarks.

    They want a revolution.


    The religious fanatics didn't buy the republican party because it was virtuous, they bought it because it was for sale

    by nupstateny on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:14:10 PM PDT

  •  Ha (4.00 / 5)

    That's the most frigging slapdash press release ever. The quotes are all out of order, and most them AREN'T REACTIONS TO 9/11. There's stuff that liberals and Democrats said in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

    I get the feeling the RNC was actually knocked on its heels by this controversy.

    by daveweigel on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:14:11 PM PDT

    •  Ann Coulter? (4.00 / 3)

      If they are going to use these quotes to back up Karl, why can't we use the infamous "kill all their leaders and convert them to Christianity" quote from "Ms." Coulter as a counter attack. I am sure she is not the only conservative who so "got it" after 9/11 that it led to a call for a crusade, right?

      A government that denies gay men the right to bridal registry is a facist state - Margaret Cho

      by CPT Doom on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:16:09 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Of course, they are all out of context, they (none / 0)

      are presented in a totally intellectually dishonest way. This is de rigeueur with these people.

      I stand by what I believe and I can do it without lying and killing.

      Corporate Media: Republicans are their base.

      by lecsmith on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:17:27 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  what's with the title case for the quotes (none / 0)

      they are jabbing and shouting as usual, like like on Crossfire ... not very coherent, as usual.

      down and down the plug-hole go RNC political professionalism ...

      by redpeter on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:19:22 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Whee! (4.00 / 4)

    Hey look, rubes! Look at Michael Moore!
    Hey look, rubes! Look at MoveOn!
    Hey look, rubes! Look at George Soros!

    And pay no attention to what we're doing in your name.

    This business will get out of control...

    by Omar on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:15:00 PM PDT

  •  No, Mehlman and his ilk hate America. (none / 0)

    They are using 9/11 as an excuse to grab as much power as possible, restrict the right of a woman to choose, demand that the US blindly trust a President who lied as much as possible, and pass the Patriot Act under cover of night.

    Criticism of the President does not mean hatred of this country. In fact, we troll-rate people here who hate this country. We criticize the President because we love the country, not because we hate it.

    I am sick and tired of people saying that just because we urge restraint and believe that wars are not the way to solve problems that we somehow hate this country. Perhaps Ken Mehlman should enlist, since he thinks the military should be our quick-fix solution to our problems.

    Ken Mehlman should apologize for his slurs against people on the left, of which I am a proud member.

    Conservatism is Dead!

    by Eternal Hope on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:15:22 PM PDT

  •  they shot themselves in the foot (4.00 / 5)

    Even though they tried to set this one up, I think they're getting the reverse and shooting themselves in the foot.  The only people who cared about the Dick Durbin "scandal" were the koolaid drinkers, every day americans are getting sick and tired of their "faux" outrage and divisiveness when they see more and more children who are being farmed out to extended families due to long deployments, veterans returning home without limbs and just the general bullshit that is this administration.

    I knew once that Operation Homecoming show got on TV, people would start to see the sacrifices this war is causing and Bush's stock would go south.

    by MFL on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:15:55 PM PDT

    •  This is what I am hoping too. Because Rove's (none / 1)

      remarks were too over the top, too offensive, too public. I know they say this stuff to their base all the time. But he was too overconfident that this is acceptable discourse in the middle of NYC for heaven's sake. Around the election, I saw a poll that said a little over 50% of New Yorkers thought Bush knew about 9/11 (something about it) and did absolutely nothing. I wonder if those numbers have gone up.

      Corporate Media: Republicans are their base.

      by lecsmith on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:23:56 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Erm (4.00 / 6)

    Actually, this reads like damage control.  Most of the quotes are from Move On and Michael Moore and do not contain any real gotchas or surprises.  Everyone knows that both of these stridently opposed the war.  The only odd words seem to come from Biden.

    And Mehlman is a pathologically liar.

    "Truck Stop Women," a New Film By Phil Gramm and John McCain.

    by bink on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:16:19 PM PDT

  •  Hey Mehlman (none / 0)

    Put the ball back in your mouth and go back to your cage in the WH basement.  

    And go to hell why you're at it.

    I hated Bush before it was cool.

    by daveriegel on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:16:35 PM PDT

  •  I remember 9/12/2001... i was crying (none / 0)

    America Cried. I get teary eyed now thinking of it... recalling the many bands from many countries playine OUR National Anthem.

    We were united as a nation. We knew OUR enemy. We were ready, willing and able to go after OUR enemy.

    There was no division of philosophy between liberals and conservatives (not in general). We were a united Country. Hell, we were a united world. Go after the Enemy. Go into Afghanistan. Get bin Ladin. Get the Enemy. (Don't the French still have ~5000 in Afghanistan?)

    BushCo is hurting America. BushCo is getting rich, but hurting America. Why don't righties see it?

    God Bless and Support Equal Rights for All Americans!

    Ask Three Poeple a Day: What Noble Cause?

    by Random Excess on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:19:07 PM PDT

  •  This (4.00 / 8)

     changes nothing.
     Declaring war on Iraq, was still a bad move. Invading Afghanistan and Iraq, was still the wrong way to do it.
      This changes nothing. If anything this proves that we were right.
      If people had lstened to us, this war would never have occured, and we would have captured Bin Ladin.
      This war was a waste of people and time and effort.
      All those quotes prove is that we were right. Right from the start!

    "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from a religious conviction." --Blaise Pascal

    by lyvwyr101 on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:19:49 PM PDT

  •  If they piss us off enough, (4.00 / 2)

    we won't answer well. When someone criticizes Durbin's words, we should criticize bushco's actions.

    "Distract, reframe, redirect" is the formula. They're trying to distract us from Iraq and the impeachable offenses committed by Bush, reframe it as the Dems fault, thus redirecting the issue.

    Let's not let that happen.

    Exxon John

    by cotterperson on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:20:45 PM PDT

  •  Okay, so how does this play. (none / 1)

    It really seems like it's such a completely obvious set-up....

    INSIDE RNC HQ.  CONTROL ROOM.  GUY WITH HEADSET WATCHING 43 MONITORS:  Cue Karl.  {9/11 liberal blah therapy compassion pussy liberal fishcakes 9/11} Great Karl, excellent.  Your done, 72 virgins are waiting in your trailer.  Now Ken... Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it.... Outrage has peaked! Jon Stewart has wrapped!  KEN! KEN! GO! GO TO KEN! YES!!! And Andrea and Wolf have it at 6.

    So will anyone notice?  Can we count on America's cynicism to trump its kneejerk jingoism?

    "Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." -- Adlai E. Stevenson

    by eebee on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:21:48 PM PDT

    •  cynicism and optimism, both (none / 1)

      On first reaction, some people seem dispirited by this, and I worry that it will lead to another round of self-repudiation. There are two other reactions that come to mind, and neither involves turning on our own:

      1. The RNC is participating in the witch-hunt. This confirms that the whole thing is a cynical political ploy to save the administration's sinking approval ratings.

      2. The Republican's Iraq Disaster came from ignoring other voices. While Democrats in Congress gave the President full authority to conduct an all-out military invasion of Iraq, there were many other voices that promoted other solutions. The Bush Administration ignored those voices, and the fact that they are now trying to shift blame to them shows how desperate they are to distract people from the emerging consensus that they are criminally incompetent crooks and liars.

      Perhaps it isn't just cynicism that works for us, here. Their gambit assumes people are still hell-bent on military conquest at all costs. But isn't part of the shift that more people don't accept that?

      "Stare at the monster: remark/ How difficult it is to define just what/ Amounts to monstrosity in that/ Very ordinary appearance." - Ted Hughes

      by MarkC on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:45:49 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  As you can see, I was very disheartened (none / 1)

        when I put up this diary. But reading the discussion has changed my mind. The one thing I know is they are fighting very, very dirty and they are going to continue to do that because they are wicked worried about Bush's sinking numbers and apparent duck status.

        Corporate Media: Republicans are their base.

        by lecsmith on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:48:06 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  Fine, then Rove shouldnt apologize (none / 0)

    I think this backfired on them personally. This might have been redmeat, but you always leave that to non-elected officials usually, like radio show hosts and party chairmen, etc. They can drag all this out, but fine, I think Rove made a mistake.

    by jj32 on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:22:21 PM PDT

  •  None of that matters (4.00 / 8)

    We continue to pound on the guy and demand an apology or that he resign.

    We SCREAM it.  DEMAND it.  You've got to watch what you say in these times.

    Fuck Rove and fuck the RNC.  Rove and the GOP have been questioning our patriotism for YEARS and we have never gotten outraged.  I mean, fuck you, take off your shirt, spit in your palms, put up your dukes outraged.

    Show some fucking spine for once and keep it, Ds.  OOOOOH, they've pulled some quotes together.  Gee, I doubt we could do the same to them, right?

    Fuck them.  They want a war, let's give them one.  Let's start by calling them the McCarthy bastards they are.  Then, let's ask if, when you were planning for war, oh manly mne, was this the great plan or is this just another Bush fuck up?  I mean, if they were ready to spring into action and we wanted to sit around like Alan Alda pussy-wimps, is this the best they could come up with?  Getting stuck in a quagmire in the middle east with no end in sight?  A generational commitment?  Osama still alive, reading books in romantic soft candle light, protected by our "ally" in the Pashtun?  

    Bring it on, Karl.  If this is winning, I'd hate to see losing.  Mission accomplished, indeed.

    God it's so painful that something that's so close, is still so far out of reach. Tom Petty/Al Gore

    by Velvet Revolution on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:22:26 PM PDT

  •  The MoveOn Petition... (none / 1)

    The MoveOn Petition has no point other than taken out of context to try to prove liberals are horrible.

    The petition, signed by over 700,000 people, was passed on to world leaders asking them not to go blow up everything they could and any country which may have terrorists.

    It wanted diplomacy, and what the right wants people to forget is that THIS is what Bush used! The UN used! Everyone used.

    Don't forget, we told the Taliban, who had taken over Afghanistan from its rightful government, to hand over bin Laden and his organization, or face military action.

    What, diplomacy instead of war? Dammit, those asshat liberals and their hatred of war.

    Well, the Taliban did not want to hand him over, and we did as promised after giving them that chance.

    Which brings me to my point: Why on earth is the petition wrong when it implored quite precisely what the UN, the US and other organizations and countries did anyways?

    Must be nice to make up history and the world as you go along.

    http://www.garhi.net/ Human evolution for the common man

    by Christopher Bair on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:22:36 PM PDT

  •  Law and Order (none / 0)

    I guess this makes the Democratic Party in general and Liberals in particular the Party of Law and Order, and the GOP the Party of Lawlessness.

    Skimming Mehlman's list, I found I agreed with most of the statements, particularly those that demanded the Rule of Law over running off half-cocked [sic] to "smoke 'em out".

    Since when is building international support a sign of weakness instead of a sign of good global citizenship and statecraft.  [Retorical question -- I know the answer is "since 9/11" so you don't need to point it out to me!]

    Me, I'm proud that there are still Americans willing to argue for Freedom, Justice, and the American Way, and if that labels them as Liberals, then thank God I'm a liberal.

    Big Joe Helton: "I pay Plenty."
    Chico Marx: "Well, then we're Plenty Tough."

    by Caelian on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:22:55 PM PDT

  •  Pure Bait and Switch (none / 0)

    Who cares what Rove says!

    Keep your eye on the ball.

    The neo-cons pre-planned the war, used 9/11 as the "crystalizing event" that "justified" it, then "fixed" the intelligence to match the so-called war on terror and wmd.  Then they started bombing the shit out of Iraq six months before Bush went to congress ... to try and provoke a response from Sadam.

    We are taking impeachement and jail for Bush and Cheney and God onlt knows who else.

    Don't get distracted.  Keep the pressure on these fake Christians!

    rok for dean  

    by rok for dean on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:25:37 PM PDT

  •  I am SEETHING right now.... (none / 1)

    but you are absolutely right. A counter-offensive is the only path to victory here.
    There can be no defense here, only offense. They're ripe. We must ATTACK them now.

    The NeoCon cabal must be forced to eat the crap they've been feeding the American people the past five years.

    "Let them eat war" is the mantra of these facists.

    Off with their heads....hypothetically, of course.

    by Ti Jean on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:26:22 PM PDT

  •  Remember, these geniuses also set up (4.00 / 3)

    the Teri Schaivo circus as well.

    Just because they thought about it, doesn't mean they know what they are doing.

    His speech was at a conservative fundraiser.  Personally, I don't think he knew a reporter was there.

    As for the press release, they just needed to add a title to a previous release.  They've been using a variation of that since the MoveOn "Hitler" flap last year.

    God it's so painful that something that's so close, is still so far out of reach. Tom Petty/Al Gore

    by Velvet Revolution on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:27:17 PM PDT

  •  GOP said painting them with radicals fair play. (4.00 / 2)

    The GOP just said it's okay to justify it's behavior by painting party moderates with the comment of the extremists on their side of the divide.

    Get out Lexis-Nexus guy... start putting together a mega-list of every freakish right wing statement ever made.

    Include Dobson. Include Fred Phelps. Include Timothy McVeigh. Include Eric Rudolph.

    Let's play ball, Kenny boy.

    by rebellingboxer on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:27:40 PM PDT

  •  Questioning = Traitors, Organized Talking Points (4.00 / 4)

    This is a planned campaign to silence critics, and to get people to stop paying attention to what the Generals are saying today. It started with O'Reilly a few days ago, spread to Michelle Malkin, and now Rove and Mehlman have taken it national.

    We need to hit back. At todays press gaggle Scott McLenan said:

    Q Last night Karl Rove, in a speech, accused the Democrats of trying to send the terrorists into therapy and not responding appropriately to 9/11, whereas the Republicans, he felt, responded appropriately. He's been called on to make an apology. Will Karl Rove will apologize, and is this elevating the discourse, the way you said the President will do?
    MR. McCLELLAN: Talking about different philosophies and different approaches? That's what Karl Rove was talking about. He was talking about the different philosophies and our different approaches when it comes to winning the war on terrorism. And I don't know who is even making such a suggestion.

    Q Harry Reid.

    Q Nancy Pelosi.

    MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I would think that they would want to be able to defend their philosophy and their approach. I mean, I know that the Democratic leadership at this point is offering no ideas and no vision for the American people, but Karl was simply pointing out the different philosophies and different approaches when it comes to winning the war on terrorism.

    Q He said the Democrats wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers. That's not injecting politics into the tragedy of September 11th?

    MR. McCLELLAN: I think it's talking about the different philosophies for winning the war on terrorism.

    Two things we need to point out, and loudly.

    ONE, This was never the philosophy expounded by the Democratic Party. It doesn't matter if they find a few quotes from individuals. Just as Rush doesn't speak for the Republican Party officially, Moore doesn't speak for us.

    TWO, The Republican philosophy has failed completely. We are still at war. Osama still runs free. Al Quaida is by the CIA, FBI and everyone else's measure bigger and more well funded that ever. You own general just said that the insurgency in Iraq is as strong as it was six months ago.

    You have failed, Bush. It's not how tough you sound, but how tough you are that counts. You have no successes in the War on Terror. None.

    by DJ Adequate on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:27:50 PM PDT

  •  Quick! (none / 1)

    Let's go make a list of quotes by David Duke, Pat Robertson, the anti-tax nuts, and so forth.  

    If I were Mehlman, I would have released a smaller number of money shot quotes, and said "this is but a small selection."  They really are starting to sound desperate.

    Our meme should be that they have so few ideas for America that they have to resort to name calling and cherry picking quotes out of context to try to divide America, rather than working to take the country forward.

    "Don't falme me pleas."

    by socratic on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:28:08 PM PDT

  •  Where was the DNC on Durbin? (4.00 / 4)

    The DNC and the whole rest of the Democratic Party machine sat by and watched as Dick Durbin was beaten into submission by the right wing attack machine.

    We won't win until we hit back harder and faster than them, every time.

    by punishinglemur on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:29:05 PM PDT

  •  hey ken (none / 1)

    i don't see a quote in there about "offering therapy" to terrorists.

    which liberals was rove quoting on that one?

    John McCain Defends Bush's Iraq Strategy.

    by jethropalerobber on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:33:35 PM PDT

  •  So What? (4.00 / 2)

    Just ignore Mehlman. Keep the focus on what Rove said. Dragging up 3 year old, out-of-context quotes is their typical panic reflex. It is like a squid or octopus squirting ink in the water while they try to escape.

    Just stay on target and don't get distracted

    by ineedalife on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:33:47 PM PDT

  •  Hi, my name is Ken... (none / 0)

    and I have a small penis.

    Hi Ken!

    America: We shoot BB minds at a .357 crisis.

    "You're watching Fox! Give us 10 minutes, we'll give you an ass!" - Jay Sherman

    by Aragorn for America on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:36:08 PM PDT

  •  I'm still waiting (none / 0)

    for Mehlman to tell reporters whether or not he's gay. He has big problems with that one. His party has said that gay marriage is as bad as 9/11 (Rick Santorum said this) and Pearl Harbor (Lou Sheldon), major acts of terrorism. So you'd think that would mean the RNC would not have a gay man as their chairman.

    by JamesB3 on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:37:22 PM PDT

  •  Despicable quiff! (none / 1)

    Dear Ken --

    The brave heroic Democrats and Liberals who issued those statements can be held entirely responsible for keeping your failed administration in check in Afghanistan and thereby allowing your incompetency from being exposed in that endeavor. They made you look like heroes.

    The lack of cautionary statements before the invasion of Iraq from those same Democrats and Liberals allowed your incompetence, hubis, and greed to shine with a thousand points of light.

    Have a nice Pride, dickhead!

    John McCain is so (Ned) Divine!!

    by Glinda on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:43:58 PM PDT

  •  Joe Joe Joe (none / 0)

    There's some kind of bizarre irony in that, a week after Biden criticized Dean for his remarks, and said Dean doesn't speak for the party (or whatever he said), Biden's own comments are being used by the RNC as an example of Democrats going too far. I guess this means Dean will say that Biden doesn't speak for him.

    Poor Patty Murray. They keep trotting out those attacks against her and they just make her more popular.

    by JamesB3 on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:44:21 PM PDT

  •  Therapy (none / 1)

    I am still waiting for evidence to back up Rove's statement that Dems wanted to send the terrorists to therapy.

    Where's that one?

    That was the most offensive thing Rove said, and Mehlman certainly cannot back that up!

    George Bush is the architect of his own destruction.

    by lalawguy on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:48:54 PM PDT

  •  Rove, As Always... (none / 0)

    ... wanted to change the subject from Iraq to 9/11.  And, for the moment, he's gotten what he wanted.

    So while we're on the subject, I think Dems should simply reply "Karl Rove and his followers are very good at talking tough... but Osama bin Laden, Ayman al Zawahiri and Mullah Omar, the three most wanted murderers of Americans, have remained free to plot yet more horror for nearly four years since their crime.  Talking tough is easy; it's also worthless if that's all you've got."

    Then we can get into the difference between putting out real fires and chasing false alarms, and the subject will be back to Iraq.

    Socialism is to capitalism as training a dog is to worshipping a wolf

    by Irfo on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 03:04:22 PM PDT

    •  Change subject to 9/11 when Bin Laden is loose? (none / 0)

      Very stupid idea. Get out Randi Rhodes "Osama Clock" and stuff it up Mehlman's panty-clad ass.

      by rebellingboxer on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 03:15:19 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  A Brief Update For You (none / 1)

        There was an election for President of the United States held last year.  Karl Rove, working for the Republican candidate, tried to keep 9/11 front and center throughout that campaign.  His party even showed 9/11 footage in an early campaign ad, to which the opposing party (the Democrats) objected strongly.  Then Osama bin Laden himself released a video immediately before that election, which was seen widely by Americans.  George W. Bush, the candidate of the Republicans, won that election.

        Socialism is to capitalism as training a dog is to worshipping a wolf

        by Irfo on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 03:38:12 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  Rove Should Not Resign (none / 0)

    He's too delicious a target. If he resigns, we won't be able to swipe at him again with quite the same effect.

    It is not the responsibility of the state to help its citizens get into heaven nor to save them from hell.

    by Dan K on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 04:03:13 PM PDT

Permalink | 87 comments