Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) has flip flopped on Iraq again. He was one of the first Republicans to respond to President Bush's speech on Thursday night stating he is now for withdrawal timelines. His Shrubness pleaded with the nation and his fellow Republicans to stay the course. Norm has previously decried cutting and running. Will the mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging wing of the Republican Party declare Norm a traitor? Norm wants to appear that he has become critical of Bush's strategy in Iraq now that his 2008 reelection polling numbers are tanking. His 20% lead in February is now 4%, he's under 50% at 46% and within the margin of error against both his opponents. Of course, this is Norm and its entirely possible that he will continue to support this war despite what he would like Minnesotans to think is opposition to Bush's strategy.
-- cross-posted from mnblue.com, home of the Norm Coleman Weasel Meter --
President Bush made a plea for congressional support for his Iraq War strategies Thursday, but it does not appear likely he will get the kind of resounding endorsement he wants, especially from moderate Republicans in the Senate.
Some of them were highly critical after the speech.
...
But Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., who has inched further from the White House each week since August, responded to the speech with skepticism.
He called the troop reduction Bush outlined a "positive development in the short-term," but said, "Americans need to know there is light at the end of the tunnel well beyond that time frame. . . . America’s role in Iraq is not unending."
Earlier this week, Coleman said he was working with Democrat Mark Pryor of Arkansas on legislation that would require troop reductions beyond next summer. Coleman, facing a tough re-election battle next year, said he would like to see troop levels cut in half within three years.
On Thursday, Bush said U.S. troop levels in Iraq can be reduced somewhat but, until next summer, will remain at least as high as they were before a recent troop buildup.
Directly addressing Congress in his remarks, Bush said: "Let us come together on a policy of strength in the Middle East. I thank you for providing crucial funds and resources for our military. And I ask you to join me in supporting the recommendations General [David H.] Petraeus has made and the troop levels he has asked for."
[emphasis mine]
(CQ.com)
Norm has previously said that we will be in Iraq for a long time. He only wants to cut the number of troops in half in three years. Of course, this is Norm-speak(TM) and we'll see how he actually votes. It's mildly ironic that Norm would want to cut and run as he'd previously decried attempts to do so.
It is easy to second-guess. It is easy to criticize, particularly in a political season. But to lead is something altogether different. The leader must live in the real world of the price that might be paid for the goal that has been set. Our young men and women are on the line today defending freedom, fighting terror. We are having discussion and debate about an April 30 deadline. One can raise questions about the plan. We should discuss that. But to call it arbitrary and unilateral, knowing there is an expectation of the Iraqis that we need to turn over political power--not leave, not cut and run. We are still in Germany 50 years later, in Kosovo, in South Korea, not to cut and run--hand over, get rid of the specter of occupation, which is what the international community wants. Yet there are those today who will criticize that second-guessing because you need something to second-guess. It should not work that way.
[emphasis mine]
(Norm's April 2004 press release)
Even more ironic, Norm now wants specific plans to withdraw.
U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, a consistent backer of the war in Iraq, on Tuesday pressed Gen. David Petraeus, the top commander, for a long-term plan that would include timelines for U.S. troop withdrawals.
"Americans want to see a light at the end of the tunnel," said the Minnesota Republican, who is walking a tightrope to the 2008 election. "We need to see some plan out there."
It was the first time he has publicly called on military leaders to attach specific dates to long-anticipated plans for drawing down troops.
(Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Norm has steadfastly opposed "arbitrary deadlines" up to this point. I guess this is a flip flop.