Harry Reid plays the fool

From a story sure to warm the heart of Hillary Clinton, published in Saturday's R-J.

As he prepares to lead Senate Democrats in the debate on President Bush's Iraq policy, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada says he has no second thoughts about his vote in 2002 authorizing the president to go to war.

"The evidence at the time was persuasive -- especially if you go back and look and see what Secretary of State Colin Powell did at the United Nations," Reid said Tuesday.

"We've learned since then that the evidence was manipulated," he said. "So the answer is no. I'm not going to apologize."

As the story notes, 29 Democratic senators voted to give Bush his blank check, while 21 echoed the conclusion held, you know, globally, and somehow resisted the hypnotic seductions of the Bush administration. The story doesn't note that in the House of Representatives, a majority of the Democrats incredibly mustered enough skepticism to -- gasp! -- reject the claims of Bush and his minions, and voted against the blank check.

Regular Gleaner readers are probably sick of seeing it, but to repeat, this little corner of the cyberwasteland has always believed, and continues to believe to this day, that Democratic support of Bush's blank check was not driven by a fear of Saddam and his weapons of mass destruction, but a fear of being called weak in the so-called war on terror in the weeks before the 2002 midterm elections (when the blank check vote occurred).

But for the sake of argument, let's give Reid the benefit of the doubt, and treat him just like he says he treated Bush, which is to say let's believe the words that are coming out of his mouth. Let's believe that he was misled.

That, to be sure, would render Reid's vote less cynical, less shameful, and less cowardly.

But it would also mean that Reid was horribly  and catastrophically wrong on the biggest vote of his career. And it would also mean that he was easily -- even retroactively -- misled. Citing Powell? Powell's presentation was made in February 2003; the Iraq blank check vote was in October 2002.

Harry's time travel aside, Powell's presentation was dismissed by Blix and ElBaradei almost before Powell had put the little vial of faux anthrax back in his pants. Granted, skepticism of Powell's presentation wasn't carried widely on Fox News. But we would hope and expect the Senate Minority Whip (Reid's post at the time) would look beyond Brit Hume before holding Bush's coat while the crusader launched one of the most colossal blunders in history.

"I'm not going to apologize," Reid says.

But he should. He should apologize for what was, at best, terrible judgment based on uncharacteristic and, for Harry Reid, frankly unbelievable gullibility.

Comments

[KidFromVegas]

YES, we are "sick of seeing it," but that's just you...and for the most part we like you...we really really do.

[Werd2406]

So not going to tar and feather Harry even though he says the exact same thing as Hillary?

[Werd2406]

So not going to tar and feather Harry even though he says the exact same thing as Hillary?

[Werd2406]

So not going to tar and feather Harry even though he says the exact same thing as Hillary?

[Werd2406]

(sorry for the typing glitch)

[Paine]

Reid's vote was wrong. An apology would be nice. But I've noticed that when someone apologizes for doing something wrong, it doesn't change the record or erase the hurt. It's what happens after the apology that counts. Reid seems to be trying to do something about this. I wish he and other Democratic leaders would do what has been done before: cut off funding for Iraq. If they did that, I don't think I would be too worried about whether they said, "I'm sorry," first.

[What?!]

And where the hell is Ensign!? He did not vote on today's Iraq resolution.

Senator Ensign, please contact a reporter in Northern and Southern Nevada and post on your website an explanation why you did not bother to vote on this issue. I hope it wasn't because you had a golf game.

Heller! Get off your a#@ and get a functioning website running! Your chief of staff knows his way around the Capital and knows how to run an office...and, who is your veterans affair LA?

[Paine]

Didn't you hear? Ensign had a very difficult putt on the 4th green at the Congressional Country Club and it detained him all day. Heller didn't know there was a vote because he still doesn't have a staff to tell him when votes are being held. Porter supported the resolution because if there are no troops, his band has nowhere to go and he has no chance of getting laid.

[Johnathan L. Abbinett]

Of all the wounds I've recieved the worst is the "Broken Soldiers Heart" from, now, knowing my good faith service and patriotism was prostituted by being sent into and Unjust War in Vietnam!

Nothing will ever change that reality!

Politicians "talk-the-talk" about how making the decision to send our youth into war is the most grave decision they ever make - yet, too many did not do due diligence and ask more questions - tougher!

I've given this topic a lot of thought - as I've seen really good men, make terrible decisions and wreck horror on many by mistake!

Harry Reid, and everyone that voted to give Bush the blank check to wage war, should do more than just apologize - they should all apologize and take corrective actions!

My suggestion?

"Upon a great deal of reflection, I have decided, especially now, as the New Majority leader, that I must apologize for my regretful vote in support of President Bush using military force - it has sadly resulted in America, again, becoming involved in an Unjust War in Iraq!"

"The truth of the matter is all of us in America were misled!" "Information was manipulated into misinformation and the National Intelligent Estimate (NIE) process was subjectively compromised!"

"I, and others, should have asked even more questions, and pressed harder for objective answers before we voted!"

"We, that is to say, the entire Congress did, in fact, fail the American people and now our troops and their families and our veterans are paying an unnecessary price that could have, and should have been avoided!"

"For this I am deeply sorry and, shall forever regret this grave error!"

"But, an apology falls short to do anything more than demostrate my sincerity to the American people and my courage to be candid and speak truth to power."

"Much more is required - now, we must take comprehensive corrective actions!"

"Effectively immediately, I'm taking steps to ensure the NIE process is fully protected from any future political influences from either party or any future President."

"Additonally, we will do everything in our power to re-deploy our troops out of Iraq and win the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world."

"Our troops will be fully funded, equipped and trained BEFORE they go into harms way."

"And we will begin the process of fully funding the VA so our Veterans & Military Families know, in fact, their sacrifice and service is sincerely appreciated!"

"Finally, we shall return to the Great American Just War Tradition, where going to war is an absolute last resort, only when all poltical and diplomatic anvenues of resolution are exhausted, an objective NIE is done and a clear and present danger is, in fact, established!"

"Then, and only under those circumstances, will America go to war - and when we must wage war, we will do so to win quickly, secure the peace, re-build the collateral damage done, and bring our troops home in short order."

"We are in a Global War On Terrorism and let every friend, and foe, know - we shall not rest to defend the American people and our allies anywhere in the world!"

"We need the support of the United Nations and the international community to protect peace and defend democracy - we can not, and will not, attempt this task alone ever again!"

"This I pledge sincerely to all of the American people whether they be Democrats, Greens, Non-Partisans, Independents, or Republicans - this is our fight together!"

[Johnathan L. Abbinett]

Of course, that's really an ideal perspective that requires we actually call the Unjust War in Iraq - UNJUST!

And it also requires that we actually start talking about how another entire generation of veterans and their families are getting so screwed over, including how they have only two years to enroll in the VA (or, get shut out forever), VA budget shortfalls, and cutting back on VA access and services, and ending PTSD counseling groups at the local Vet Centers.

It's not just a "can of worms" it's a national shame that is turning into a national nightmare - and no politician is going to be able to claim denial for much longer!

[What?!]

Paine and JLA, right on!

Take a read of today's article by Dana Priest in the Washington Post (available on-line) regarding Walter Reed Hospital and our veteran "care"..........take a blood pressure med before you start reading, though.

[garysdottir]

Heller! Get off your a#@ and get a functioning website running!

Oh my, yes! I've never seen such an atrocity.

[Johnathan L. Abbinett]

"What?!" I take those meds everyday, some twice and three times a day - but, thanks for the voice of support buddy!

[What?!]

re: garysdottir;

Well, I would have sent him an email, but......

[sundayreader]

Ensign's excuse for missing the vote, and of course not dissing Reid in the process, can be found in todays' LVRJ.........

McCain missed the vote as well, and 8 others. Doubt the Dems would have picked up extra votes from those not present.

[garysdottir]

JLA - You can email Heller from his site, but it's tricky to find the form.