Why do Conservatives use weenie tactics?

[fintstone]

Why do Conservatives "play nice" while the liberals use "dirty" tactics and the "end justifies the means" doctrine. Are they weak cowards or just doing the right thing? This article asks similar questions:

WE LIKE YOU! WE REALLY, REALLY LIKE YOU!
November 30, 2005

When Democratic Rep. John Murtha called for the withdrawal of American troops in the middle of the war, Republicans immediately leapt to action by calling Murtha a war hero, a patriot and a great American.

I haven't heard Republicans issue this many encomiums to one man since Ronald Reagan died. By now, Murtha has been transformed into the greatest warrior since Alexander the Great and is probably dating Jennifer Aniston.

In response to Murtha's demand for the "immediate withdrawal of American troops" — as The New York Times put it — President Bush called Murtha a "fine man, a good man" who served with "honor and distinction," who "is a strong supporter of the United States military." He said he knew Murtha's "decision to call for an immediate withdrawal of our troops ... was done in a careful and thoughtful way."

Vice President Dick Cheney called Murtha "a good man, a Marine, a patriot."

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Murtha is "a fine man, I know him personally ... and it's perfectly proper to have a debate over these things, and have a public debate."

National Security Adviser Steve Hadley called in his praise for Murtha from South Korea, saying Murtha was "a veteran, a veteran congressman and a great leader in the Congress."

During the House debate on Murtha's insane proposal to withdraw troops in the middle of the war, Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., said Murtha deserved an "A-plus as a truly great American," and Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., said "none of us should think of questioning his motives or desires for American troops."

On the House floor, both Republicans and Democrats repeatedly gave Murtha rousing standing ovations. There was so much praise for Murtha that one of his Democratic colleagues asked him if he still had to attend Murtha's funeral.

What is this? Special Olympics for the Democrats? Can't Republicans disagree with a Democrat who demands that the U.S. surrender in the middle of a war without erecting monuments to him first? What would happen if a Democrat were to propose restoring Saddam Hussein to power? Is that Medal of Freedom territory?

I don't know what Republicans imagine they're getting out of all this love they keep throwing at Democrats. I've never heard a single liberal preface attacks on Oliver North with a recitation of North's magnificent service as a Marine. And unlike Murtha, who refuses to release his medical records showing he was entitled to his two Purple Hearts, we know what North did. (These Democrat military veterans are hardly shrinking violets when it comes to citing their medals, but they get awfully squeamish when pressed for details.)

We also know what Rep. Randy Cunningham, R-Calif., did to earn his medals. One of only two American Navy aces that the Vietnam War produced, Cunningham shot down five MiGs, three in one day, including a North Vietnamese pilot with 13 American kills. Cunningham never did something as insane as proposing that we withdraw troops in the middle of a war, but this week he did admit to taking bribes.

And yet, no Democrat breathed a word of Cunningham's unquestioned heroism before rushing to denounce him as "the latest example of the culture of corruption" — in the words of Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

Sen. Teddy Kennedy didn't issue a 20-minute soliloquy on what a wonderful man Judge Robert Bork was as a human being before attacking his judicial philosophy. Kennedy just laid into Bork like he was George Lincoln Rockwell.

Speaking of which, George Lincoln Rockwell, former head of the American Nazi Party, served in the military during World War II. Are we obligated to praise his war service before disputing his views?

CNN's Bill Schneider summarized the Republican love-fest for Murtha by saying that House Republicans "started calling him some very ugly names — cowardly, shameful, he wanted to cut and run, he wanted to surrender to the terrorists, emboldening the enemy." Are we all looking at the same "intelligence"?

The only Republican congressman who did not offer to have sex with John Murtha on the House floor was Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio. While debating Murtha's own proposal to withdraw American troops from Iraq in the middle of a war waged to depose a monstrous dictator who posed a threat to American national security, Schmidt made the indisputably true remark that Marines don't cut and run. (She was right! Murtha voted against his own proposal.)

Schmidt's precise words were: "I received a call from Col. Danny Bubp. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message, that cowards cut and run, Marines never do." Bubp later said — pointlessly — that he was not calling Murtha a coward. Neither was Jean Schmidt. (These guys are very brave facing down the VC, but cower before the MSM.)

Now Schmidt is Emmanuel Goldstein, subjected to the liberals' Orwellian two-minutes hate, and not one Republican will defend her. If Republicans were one-tenth as rough with the congressman who wants to withdraw troops in the middle of a war as they are on a congresswoman who calls it cowardly to withdraw troops in the middle of a war, we might have a functioning Republican Party.
by Ann Coulter

[speeder]

Only one slight problem w/ her outburst; we are not "in the middle of a war" in Iraq, more like reaching the end of an ill-planned and conceived operation. Even the administration is looking for the exit door right now.

[fintstone]

I agree that we are rapidly approaching a point where the Iraqis can take over more responsibility for their defense against the terrorists....Of course the administration is looking for a way to bring home troops as soon as possible...after we have accomplished our goals. We have to start prepping those troops for Iran.

[nostatic]

Originally posted by fintstone
We have to start prepping those troops for Iran.

And then North Korea!

[fintstone]

I think that North Korea will fall prey to the ultimate weapon soon...along with Cuba. If we can keep the conservatives in power. Iran will require the threat of force.

[speeder]

Well, that's encouraging! So I guess that business is very good right now.

[fintstone]

Business?

[speeder]

For anyone in war-related business.

[fintstone]

It is lucrative now, but it will not cost much for Cuba and North Korea. It will be mostly aid. Iran could go either way. It will either be as cheap as North Korea....or as bad as Iraq. It looks like China wants to restart the arms race....so missile defense and naval systems should be good moneymakers.
FYI...As a DoD civilian and reservist...I get paid the same in war or peace.

[island_dude]

Fint,
Explain to me, exactly why do we consider Cuba a threat? Why to we care at all. I don't even see how they remotely threaten our interests.

On the other hand, I can understand the threat that Iran might represent. I seriously doubt that it would be wise to go in there. North Korea is down right scary though.

[oldsam]

"Why do Conservatives "play nice" while the liberals use "dirty" tactics"

What about the sliming of McCain. Forgot that one?

[Rodeo]

The history of Republican dirty tricks:

CREEP (1972) -- Lee Atwater (1990) -- Karl Rove (2000)

As usual, Fint has it entirely backwards. Its not that Dems are any nicer, I don't think, but the Repubs have virtually locked up hardball politics since Nixon.

Smear? Off the top of my head, John McCain, Paul O'Neill, Richard Clark, Joe Wilson, John Kerry ("Swiftboating" is now a verb), Gen. Shinseki, Gen. Zinni, Larry Wilkerson. They tried Murtha (saying he had joined the Michael Moore faction of the Democratic party, calling him a coward), but reversed course when they realized it was doing more harm than good.

[juanbenae]

Originally posted by fintstone
...after we have accomplished our goals.

and what were these "goals" you speak of again?

[fintstone]

Originally posted by island_dude
Fint,
Explain to me, exactly why do we consider Cuba a threat? Why to we care at all. I don't even see how they remotely threaten our interests.

On the other hand, I can understand the threat that Iran might represent. I seriously doubt that it would be wise to go in there. North Korea is down right scary though.

I don't remember calling Cuba a "threat."

[fintstone]

Originally posted by oldsam
"Why do Conservatives "play nice" while the liberals use "dirty" tactics"

What about the sliming of McCain. Forgot that one?

The Republican party did not slime McCain. He claims to be a Republican.

[CamB]

I guessed that was Coulter, her "Style" is unmistakable

subjected to the liberals' Orwellian two-minutes hate,

Oh! That's the style - Coulter's Conservative two minute hate! Oh well, I guess it sells the columns.

What really jumped out at me was the disingenuous "why didn't they praise Cunningham". The main reason is that Cunningham wasn't talking bribes (the problem) in his capacity as a decorated veteran.

Murtha was making his speech (the "problem" ) in his capacity as a vet... it was relevant to the discussion.

Besides, isn't the whole concept of pre-emptive war predicated on "the end justifies the means"...

[mikester]

Umm...she's got herself a very selective history book. There are Republicans who did say bad things about Murtha and there are are Democrats who have said good things about republicans in the past, and vise versa.

Very selective. Typical chick with a pen.

[fintstone]

Originally posted by CamB
I guessed that was Coulter, her "Style" is unmistakable

subjected to the liberals' Orwellian two-minutes hate,

Oh! That's the style - Coulter's Conservative two minute hate! Oh well, I guess it sells the columns.

What really jumped out at me was the disingenuous "why didn't they praise Cunningham". The main reason is that Cunningham wasn't talking bribes (the problem) in his capacity as a decorated veteran.

Murtha was making his speech (the "problem" ) in his capacity as a vet... it was relevant to the discussion.
....

Give me a break. " Making a a speech in his capacity as a vet?" You have to be kidding. He was making a speech in his capacity as a liberal democratic elected official. Being a vet does not allow you to speak on the floor...ask me how I know. he was no more speaking for vets than Cunniham was stealing for them.

[fintstone]

Originally posted by CamB
....Besides, isn't the whole concept of pre-emptive war predicated on "the end justifies the means"...

Of course not. You are kidding now.

[snowman]

Ann Coulter is my ideal woman. A woman of ideas, intelligent, and non submissive. She puts liberals where they belong, in the gutter.

Oh, did I forget to say I am not a liberal?