Thereafter, O'Reilly launched an attack on Radmacher and the Roanoke Times, calling Radmacher a "...left-wing loon..." and a liar and targeting him and the RT for future scrutiny by O'Reilly: http://mediamatters....
Well, Radmacher's at it once again in today's (Sunday, February 4) Roanoke Times in which he dedicates the second half of his two-part commentary (entitled "Readers want to express themselves") to U. S. Senator Jim Webb's persistence towards Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Several weeks ago, Webb asked Rice whether the Bush administration believes it has the unilateral authority to take action against Iran without congressional approval, and Webb allowed Rice to send him her response - in writing - later. When Rice did not respond for more than two weeks, Webb sent her a reminder letter last week, reported here on RK on January 30 by "Lowell": http://raisingkaine....
As you can read below - or access at this link - http://www.roanoke.c... ...Radmacher lauds Webb for his persistence:
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"Persistent Webb
"When Sen. James Webb asks a question, he expects an answer. Nearly a month ago, he asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice this question during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting:
"'Is it the position of this administration that it possesses the authority to take unilateral action against Iran, in the absence of a direct threat, without congressional approval?'
"Webb was kind enough to offer a clearly uncomfortable Rice the chance to put the answer in writing and deliver it at a later date.
"But not much later.
"He sent a letter to Rice last week, reminding her that he was still waiting for his answer. He made it clear that he didn't believe it should require a lengthy response.
"'This is, basically, a 'yes' or 'no' question regarding an urgent matter affecting our nation's foreign policy,' he wrote.
"As the administration continues to ratchet up the rhetoric against Iran -- backed up with increased jet fighter patrols along the Iran-Iraq border and the deployment of another carrier group to the Persian Gulf -- Webb's persistence is appreciated.
"Other members of Congress should join Webb in forcing Bush administration officials to explain whether they believe the 2002 congressional authorization of force that preceded the invasion of Iraq also grants the administration authority to attack Iran without further congressional consultation.
"Without six long years of experience with Bush's capacity to deny reality, it would be hard to imagine he might seriously be considering an intentional escalation with Iran.
"After all, Iraq is a complete disaster, the military is nearly broken and his approval ratings are actually lower than Vice President Cheney's.
"But a president so awesomely insulated from the reality-based community is capable of almost anything, as we've already seen.
"In November, voters did everything in their power to provide an effective check and balance against further presidential misadventure.
"Webb is doing his part to fulfill that duty. He could use some support."
Radmacher is the editorial page editor of The Roanoke Times.
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Surely, Bill O'Reilly will not have a problem with this most recent editorial by fellow journalist Dan Radmacher... or will he?
Please stay tuned, and thanks!
Steve
This column is important reading for it outlines the gist of why Hillary isn't the leader we need and Webb may well be. It's a bit early this go-round. But Hillary is definitely too driven by polls and focus groups. One garbled quote by her is priceless and alone worth the read.
Kudos to the RT for both of these columns.
Thanks again!
Steve