Nobody could have forseen Bush and Trent Lott being right on the money, but there they are.
Thanks to Joe Rothstein for the memory and linking together the fateful quotes:
My job as majority leader is be supportive of our troops and to try to have input as decisions are made and to look at those decisions after they're made ... not to march in lock step with everything the president decides to do.
----Senator Trent Lott (R-MS)
US Politics Today - The Angry Optimist
Nope, wouldn't want to march in lockstep with the president. Of course, everything is different when the president in question is Bill Clinton, the year is 1999, and the action is in Bosnia.
Nonetheless, once the chips were down, certainly the Congress came around and supported the President - right?
Nope, not so much.
MANY REPUBLICANS ARE JUST AS SCATHING IN DENOUNCING MR. CLINTON'S POLICY. ASSISTANT MAJORITY LEADER TOM DELAY SAYS THE UNITED STATES SHOULD CUT ITS LOSSES AND PULL OUT OF THE CONFLICT.
// DELAY ACT //
THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT IF WE DID NOTHING, THERE WOULD BE INSTABILITY IN THE REGION, THERE WOULD BE A FLOOD OF REFUGEES, KOSOVARS WOULD DIE AND THE CREDIBILITY OF NATO WOULD BE UNDERMINED. WELL, CLINTON'S BOMBING CAMPAIGN HAS CAUSED ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS TO EXPLODE.
// END ACT //
THE LAWMAKERS ENDED THE DAY BY DECLINING TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING AIR RAIDS AND MISSILE STRIKES. THAT MEASURE FAILED ON A TIE VOTE (213 TO 213). THE ACTION HAS NO IMPACT ON THE WAR. BUT IT MAKES CLEAR THE DEPTH OF DIVISION IN THE HOUSE AND THE POLITICAL STRUGGLE THAT MAY LIE AHEAD FOR THE PRESIDENT AS THE FIGHTING GOES ON. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/PHW/PT
28-Apr-99 9:32 PM EDT (0132 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
Voice of America Transcript April 29, 1999
So, apparently supporting the troops can run both ways. Of course, the more one reads, the more confused one is likely to become.
But what would the President have to say about all of this? What should we expect of him?
Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is." ---Governor George W. Bush (R-TX)
Oh. We should expect him to explain what the exit strategy is, since "victory means exit strategy." Okay. Well, perhaps it's easier to find an exit strategy when you are governor than when you are the President. I guess the good news is we are going to get a new President soon. Maybe it will be John McCain. Given that he's a Senator, surely he has an exit strategy, because "Victory means exit strategy." As Plan A's not working out so well, I'll bet he calls his exit strategy, "Plan B." Let's check.
BarbinMD's Diary
Nope, BarbinMD already covered that one. No exit strategy here.
So, where are we left. No exit strategy, so no victory. No plan B. It's okay to question the President, but apparently only if you are a Republican. In fact, then it's okay to pass a bill that would deny funding to the ongoing effort.
Loss of credibility of NATO, floods of refugees, and dead Kosovars - okay.
Loss of credibility of MNF-Iraq, floods of refugees, and dead Iraqis - parade of horribles. But, onto every parade of horribles, a gentle rain must fall. (I wish I could remember the exact quote and its author - perhaps the ever quotable Judge Learned Hand?)