Excessive GOP partisanship hurting the national interest
Posted on Friday, November 19, 2010 at 08:23 AM
Larger Text
Print
E-mail
41 Comments
RSS 
Recent Posts
- Daily Mail unloads on 'drunken young' Paddys with booze-baiting rant - British tabloid continues its anti Irish attitude
- Marco Rubio: 'If immigration bill gives Cubans immigration rights, it kills the bill. I'm done' - VIDEO
- Diaspora should work both ways - time for global Irish to vote
- Ireland needs a new James Joyce - new voice of the Irish people is on the way
- Fox News Lou Dobbs panel: selfish working mothers are destroying the natural order and America
Archives
According to former President George W. Bush's new memoir "Decision Points," in 2006 McConnell asked the commander in chief of the United States to draw down the number of troops in Iraq in order to help Republicans survive in that November's elections.
You read that right. At the time McConnell was pugnaciously defending the war effort in Iraq he was privately pleading with Bush to diminish that same effort in an attempt to save Republican seats.
Apparently McConnell's first concern wasn't the threat to life and limb confronting U.S. soldiers, he seems to have been more fearful that the mess in Iraq would cause the Republican Party to lose the approaching mid-term elections. Priorities, you know?
To date McConnell's office has not denied any of Bush's claims.
But there's a difference between partisanship and taking leave of one's moral center, or at least there used to be. The theme of tarring the opposition and preventing them a 'win', at whatever cost to the nation, has become the hallmark of the increasingly nihilistic GOP.
41 comments
borefield | Nov 19, 2010, 09:06 PM EST
Why do you have this half-witted idiot on your staff. He is a disgraceful socialist.
Report abuse
vincem13 | Nov 19, 2010, 08:33 PM EST
I feel for you, Cahir. I have significant organic memory loss, so your not being able to remember the last four years of crushing Democrat majorities in the House and Senate, not being able to remember all of the important legislation that HIGHLY Partisan Democrats pushed through while ignoring all of the many GOP attempts to work out more bipartisan bills I can understand. Poor fellow.
Report abuse
clancy4unc | Nov 19, 2010, 08:25 PM EST
I am a third generation Irish-American, and you guys in Ireland don't get it. The democratic party has almost detroyed the USA. I am shocked at the lack of knowledge about what is going on here. They are socialist/communists. Most Americans DO NOT support a generational welfare state or taking from those who work hard and giving their money to people who do nothing. You liberals make me ashamed to be called an Irish-American. And by the way the press in America is so pro liberal you will never read a bad word about them, but they will bash every conservative until everyone thinks they are evil incarnate. Take the blinders off, the truth will set you free.
Report abuse
allentown | Nov 19, 2010, 07:49 PM EST
It took Bush 8-years to destroy the Republican Party. Obama destroyed the Democratic Party in four.
The Republicans returning from Greenland have left the lights on for the incoming Democrats. Burrrrr
Report abuse
Monsoonman | Nov 19, 2010, 07:16 PM EST
The Republicans admit they didn't earn the landslide victory in this last election, the voters just resoundingly rejected obama and the left wing idealogues who have seized power. The Republicans will have to abide by their promises to the voters or they will get booted too...and to the ninny who wrote: "At least California showed it itself not to be receptive to this delusional bunch in the mid-terms." California is beyond broke from have 30 years of democrat rule, you can't get any more upside down financially than Cali is, thanks to the democrats and the unions who own them.
Report abuse
willieboy | Nov 19, 2010, 07:05 PM EST
some people should keep their noses out of things that they know nothing about. Appearently you are one of them...
Report abuse
DennisQ | Nov 19, 2010, 04:20 PM EST
The Republicans won big in an off-year low turnout election. They are misinterpreting this outcome as an endorsement of their obstructionist policies. The '12 election will give a better indication of how voters feel about what their government has been up to.
If the Republicans continue to high-five each other for what they were able to impede rather than what they've accomplished, they're likely to be disappointed. Half of the new members of Congress are rookies, and if they want to get re-elected they'll have to show their constituents they're not just keeping the seat warm. Republican leaders are planning to write these people off, but it may not be as easy as it sounds.
Voters are tired of talk - that's why they voted so heavily for the opposition party. The Republicans seem ready to face the voters in '12 having accomplished nothing more than two more years of talk. Good luck with that!
If the Republicans continue to high-five each other for what they were able to impede rather than what they've accomplished, they're likely to be disappointed. Half of the new members of Congress are rookies, and if they want to get re-elected they'll have to show their constituents they're not just keeping the seat warm. Republican leaders are planning to write these people off, but it may not be as easy as it sounds.
Voters are tired of talk - that's why they voted so heavily for the opposition party. The Republicans seem ready to face the voters in '12 having accomplished nothing more than two more years of talk. Good luck with that!
Report abuse
francisquinn | Nov 19, 2010, 04:08 PM EST
I think BO learned from McConnell...do you recall all the closed meetings Harry, Nancy and BO had abou the Healthcare disaster in Feb and March?
Even the forced vote with lots of Bribes going to Ben Nelson and Mary Landreau for their votes...Remember he was the one who said "I will change the way things are done in Washington " Yeah more BS..
Report abuse
FastEddy | Nov 19, 2010, 03:28 PM EST
"Excessive"? ... LOL ! Get a life outside of the "progressive" wish list.
"... there's a difference between partisanship and taking leave of one's moral center, or at least there used to be."
Like what? The difference between the liberal lefty looney moral center and one's moral obligations to the US taxpayers as a whole?
Report abuse
sirgillis | Nov 19, 2010, 02:58 PM EST
Thank God that McConnell represents a dying breed of politician from both parties, embedded in thinking that the deal no matter what it is supersedes our National defense and honor. He is typical of most on the hill since the contract with America, a whore who would sell himself over all else. It is time for Kentucky to rid themselves of this scourge
Report abuse
1IrishMedic | Nov 19, 2010, 01:42 PM EST
Well whomever Hancock is, he shouldn't be. He belongs in the same camp as McConnell a doble-faced bastage. McConnell does not care about the USA nor the all the troops sevrving so gallantly. He should be in the Koregal valley and try to shake hands with the Taliban. I've had it with the Right wing conservativee, the only thing they conserve is money for their own Pockets. Thanks Pres. Bush for outing this traitor. He should be impeached from the senate.
Report abuse
patrickesq | Nov 19, 2010, 01:25 PM EST
Mr. McConnell is very skilled at speaking out of both sides of his mouth, always championing the cause of his Party and the wealthy special interests, while posturing that he is for the little guys and small business. Thank you Mr. President for shedding more light on the true character of Mr. McConnell.
Report abuse
hollabackgurl | Nov 19, 2010, 12:55 PM EST
Right, the GOP sent U.S. troops to fight a war they supported in public but undermined in private, putting their party ahead of the nation - and all you can do is call that whining? You're a disgrace and a two-faced patriot hancock.
Report abuse
hancock | Nov 19, 2010, 12:50 PM EST
What a joke you whiny lefties are. Maybe we should ban Republicans like Fox.
Report abuse
Report abuse