"Lifelong" Republican Generals Call for Democratic Takeover of Congress!
By: Lowell
Published On: 10/25/2006 9:07:39 AM
According to Salon Magazine (subscription or free site pass required), "Two retired senior Army generals, who served in Iraq and previously voted Republican, are now openly endorsing a Democratic takeover of Congress." The two generals, both retired, are Maj. Gen. John Batiste and Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton. According to Batiste, who calls himself a "lifelong Republican:"
The best thing that can happen right now is for one or both of our houses to go Democratic so we can have some oversight. It is time for a change.
And Eaton adds:
The way out that I see is to hand the House and the Senate to the Democrats and get this thing turned around. Most of us see two more years of the same if the Republicans stay in power. You could not have tortured me enough to vote for Mr. Kerry or Mr. Gore, but I'm not at all thrilled with who I did vote for.
Finally, according to Salon, "more than 100 current members of the military have now joined a campaign formally appealing to Congress to immediately withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq."
So, are Bush, Allen et al. going to label all these generals and military members "traitors," "cut and run"-ers, or what? Oh wait, I forgot, the Bush Administration's latest line is that they are NOT for "stay the course." And many Republican candidates are calling for anything BUT "stay the course," while also admitting that we have failed in building a democracy in the heart of the Arab Middle East. Yet, right there on George Allen's website, here's what he has to say:
In Iraq, our troops have done a tremendous job helping Iraqis build a democracy in a formerly oppressive, terrorist-friendly dictatorship. Immediately withdrawing our military from Iraq would be forfeiting to the terrorists, and I disagree strongly with those who suggest that we should leave precipitously.
What does that mean? I have no idea. But one thing I DO know is that I'd rather listen to people like Generals Batiste and Eaton - not to mention Generals Zinni, Clark, and many others - than clueless fools like George W. Bush and George Allen!
Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign. The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters.
Comments
Now will hear Snow(job) tell us... (Loudoun County Dem - 10/25/2006 9:21:01 AM)
...that the troops don't support the troops...
Fightin Generals! (drmontoya - 10/25/2006 9:33:33 AM)
why aren't they on TV ads nationwide?
Batiste, Eaton, Zinni, Clark, Wilkerson, Hoar.
WHY AREN't THey on tv ads? Now.
This election has a lot to do about the failure of policies in Iraq. At least that's what the polls and pundits suggest.
Get 'em on tv (Silver Fox - 10/25/2006 9:39:19 AM)
I thoroughly agree. We need these generals on tv, in an ad, especially a Webb ad. This just validates what Jim Webb has been saying all along. Have they made a formal endorsement of any of the Democratic candidates, especially Jim? Has anyone in the campaign contacted them to see if they would appear in a campaign ad? Powerful and urgent. Jump on it, guys.
Me three -- get 'em on TV (PM - 10/25/2006 10:09:06 AM)
Interesting poll from Gallup
Democrats lead Republicans by 23 points in perceptions of effectively managing government
http://www.galluppol...
Add my endorsement for ads featuring (Catzmaw - 10/25/2006 12:27:03 PM)
these courageous retired commanders. It can't be easy for them to put themselves out there in the civilian arena, especially when it means breaking with their political party.
Heart-breaking (Teddy - 10/25/2006 10:18:42 AM)
How it must grind the souls of professional military men to think of the soldiers they had to send to death and maiming by following the cockamaigny orders of the Republican leadership. My father (an infantry battalion commander with the Big Red One throughout all of World War II-- seeing Batiste's shoulder patch made me cry) always said the glory of the American military system was its absolute submission to the civilian control. He would never have countenanced the politicization of the military as done by these half-assed modern republicans. Think what it must have cost these commanders to go public. Restoring the balance between our elected political leaders and the advice of our professional military is one more critical reason for hosing out the Capitol and putting Democrats into power on the Hill.
These latest additions to the long line of disgruntled generals should be on television and radio, on talk shows and in press conferences all over the place. Before it is too late.
New DNC Ad On Iraq (PM - 10/25/2006 11:32:36 AM)
http://www.rawstory....
It doesn't pull any punches -- maybe someone with an iota of technical competence can embed the video?
What Does That Mean? (Gordie - 10/25/2006 11:39:23 AM)
It means what most of us have been saying all along. Democrats know how to Govern and the Military are backing us up. Now all we need is to get back in power, after our stumble that left those jerks in power, and let people like Jim Webb, Al Weed and the rest of our combate veterans lead us to victory in Iraq and this terrorism that drives the rest of the world crazy. The world will become one voice against terrorism under Democratic Governing.
These days, nobody will admit to making a mistake (Quizzical - 10/25/2006 12:43:42 PM)
"You could not have tortured me enough to vote for Mr. Kerry or Mr. Gore, but I'm not at all thrilled with who I did vote for."
Speaking for myself, I'm not too thrilled by this kind of tepid support. Why not just admit you made a mistake, and that you were duped? Why take a gratuitous swipe at Kerry and Gore?
I think it's rather powerful (Catzmaw - 10/25/2006 1:44:35 PM)
Here's a guy who is a dyed in the wool Republican partisan who is so alienated by the behavior of his chosen party that he has decided publicly to turn on them and advocate their defeat. In that statement he's just emphasizing how far he has come in his thinking. And he doesn't have to turn into a Massachusetts liberal. He just wants a change of course with leaders who will do what needs to be done to stop the carnage. Good for him.
Like Jim Webb (Teddy - 10/25/2006 6:30:25 PM)
and, for that matter, me, the disgust with the Republican Party we used to support is bone deep; no matter how the general puts it, the result is the same. This utter disenchantment (and that is what it is) caused Jim Webb to run for the Senate, and me to leave the GOP, converting to being a Democrat, ultimately to support Jim, and the Generals to take the unprecedented step of going public. To each his own. Nothing tepid about it.