Congressman says Lugar’s Iraq statement significant
By Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com ReporterWrite down the date, says Rep. Donald Payne: June 25, 2007.
That’s when U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar made remarks on the floor of the Senate urging President George W. Bush to change course in Iraq.
"In my judgment, the costs and risks of continuing down the current path outweigh the potential benefits that might be achieved," Lugar said on the Senate floor. "Persisting indefinitely with the surge strategy will delay policy adjustments that have a better chance of protecting our vital interests over the long term."
Payne said the statement made by the high-ranking Republican and foreign policy expert would likely pressure other GOP Congress people to cross party lines to join Democrats who want to end the war.
"It’s going to make a big difference," Payne said of Lugar’s remarks. "To me his statement was quite significant."
Payne said he voted against giving the President the authority to go to war in Iraq in 2002 because he was never convinced Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction.
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Paynetics NJ?
Our Donald and his extended family are getting A LOT of play on here lately. I can't wait for the 2008 primary lol.
Maybe significant
Sen. Lugar's statements are significant to the degree that they help intitiate a change in policy in Iraq and resonate with other sensible Republican senators. Lugar and Voinovich, the other R senator who called for troop withdrawal yesterday, both originally voted against the war and have generally been following the president lock-and-step in his failed foreign policy intitiatives. One could argue that, though it is meaningful that they are criticizing the war now and calling for withdrawal, that they are doing too little, too late.
Iraq statement notwithstanding ...
I always found "Dick Lugar" to be one of the truly magnificent names in politics. It has the ring of a Mickey Spillane detective ... or an Arnold Swartzeneggar action hero ... or, for that matter, possibly even a German porn star ... take your pick.
As for Payne, he could have ensured a dynasty for at least the next couple of generations if he had named his heir Maxwell -- tell me you'd want to run against or double-cross a guy named "Max Payne" -- I don't think so.
Trooper
Has that trooper been charged yet?
Lugar?
Lugar? Wasn't that the name of the Nazi pistol in WWII?
Anyway "continuing down the current path outweigh the potential benefits that might be achieved," he will probably be dead when Iraq becomes what we all hope and pray for will be in the future as Lugar is part of the past and not of the future so I can see why he can't see past his nose on this subject.
My suggestion is to fade into the sunset and RETIRE and get out of the way for the future because no one will remember you when Iraq becomes part of the new and modern 21st century middle east from the help of many brave soldiers that are there now to help accomplish that end.
Senator Lugar
A) The gun you were talking about is spelt Luger, not Lugar.
B)Senator Lugar is the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, making him one of the most respected voices on the Right. Especially because he's fairly conservative on mmost issues.
C) As a Dem, it's nice to hear some sense coming from that side of the isle. I agree that a sudden and complete withdrawl would be the worst case scenario for both Iraq, as well as the United States, but the plan is plain not working.
MadMax, I'm sure he'll take
MadMax, I'm sure he'll take your advice... NOT! He is obviously an intelligent person and very well respected. Anyway, it seems more likely that he will be remembered, while you will not. Senator Lugar has been loyal to his party, but he realizes now as an idividual that things have been executed beyond poorly concerning Iraq. People in the GOP have been hesitant to cross their party, but as more people realize that they will have to answer to their constituencies, they will come out and be more willing to disagree with their parties. I'm sorry if i sound a bit harsh, MadMax... but just be easy with those stones that you cast becuase they can come back at you.