Pajama Pete Domenici is getting restless about Iraq:
Pointing to his profound disappointment in the Iraqi government, U.S. Senator Pete Domenici today called for a redirection of U.S. military policy in Iraq and announced his support for bipartisan legislation to create conditions by which American combat troops can be removed from that nation.
Domenici, who serves on the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, announced his decision to support the legislation, the Iraq Study Group Recommendation Implementation Act (S.1545), at a news conference in Albuquerque Thursday.
“I want a new strategy for Iraq. I continue to completely support the men and women in the American Armed Forces. They have not failed us. It is the Iraqi government that is failing to make even modest progress to help Iraq itself or to merit the sacrifices being made by our men and women in uniform,” Domenici said. “I am unwilling to continue our current strategy.”
Could this have anything to do with Domenici’s plummeting poll numbers? He’s down to a 51-42 approval rating. He is laboring under a Senate ethics investigation and he may be facing a well-funded opponent.
Announcing his candidacy last week, [Don] Wiviott said his top agenda items would be redeploying U.S. troops from Iraq, balancing the budget and increasing energy independence through renewable energy and sustainable building.
Of course, I don’t disagree with Atrios:
What Domenici is likely to do, of course, is follow in the path of the very serious Dick Lugar and suggest that while the president’s policies are not good ones, those damn dirty Democrats are just too darned partisan (his good friend Joe agrees!) for anything to happen.
And what are we to make of this?
Ok, I’m doing some work at home with CNN on in the background, and ‘The Situation Room’ comes on, with Suzanne Malveux subbing for Blitzer. And she announces that Pete Domenici has changed position on the war on Iraq as she goes over the stories ‘coming up’ in today’s show. But then she said, (unless my ears decieved me), “is he [Domenici] giving aid and comfort to Democrats?” – and just moved on.
Your liberal media at work.
.
who have lost family members in Iraq and by the failures of the Iraqi government.”
(The Albuquerque Tribune) – Domenici praised the performance of U.S. troops but said he’d sensed a shift in views among family members who have lost sons or daughters in Iraq. Domenici said one father he spoke to recently said his son was proud to serve in the military and was willing to give his life.
“But then this man said, ‘I’m asking you if you couldn’t do a little extra to get our troops back,'” Domenici said, recalling the conversation. “I heard nothing like that a couple years ago.”
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."I wonder if this means he will drop charges against the constituents who were arrested when they had the termerity to show up at his office to discuss the war. I believe seven are still in legal jeaopardy.
They’ll all be for ‘cutting and running’ (but not very far, and not completely). The Democrats had their chance for popularity with voters on the Iraq issue and lost it in May 2007.
We need not throw our adversaries an anchor, they already have one, the Iraqi war. The trickle will shortly become a deluge.
Senator Domenici’s voting record on military issues can be found at: Domenici’s Voting Record
Senator Domenici’s history of speeches on military issues can be found at: Senator Domenici’s Record of Speeches
For more information on Senator Domenici’s position on military issues and other issues, please visit Project Vote Smart or call our hotline at 1-888-VOTE-SMART.