Tuesday, September 03, 2013

President wins support from top leaders in Congress to take action against Syria.

"Whatcha going to do buddy?"
Courtesy of the Chicago Tribune: 

President Barack Obama today urged quick congressional action authorizing the use of military force against Syria and won the support of leaders from both parties in the House of Representatives. 

Obama told congressional leaders at a White House meeting that the United States has a broad plan to help the rebels defeat Syrian government forces. 

After the meeting, the top two Republicans in the House — Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor — and top Democrat Nancy Pelosi said they would back military action against Syria. 

"Only the United States has the capability and the capacity to stop Assad and to warn others around the world that this type of behavior is not going to be tolerated," Boehner told reporters. "I believe that my colleagues should support this call for action." 

The support came as Obama ramped up his lobbying effort for military action in response to what Washington says was a sarin gas attack by the Syrian government that killed more than 1,400 people, hundreds of them children, near Damascus on Aug. 21.

Now what are the Right Wing pundits going to say in order to attack the President on his decision to deal with Syria?

Especially since this news comes on the heels of this incredibly awkward meeting from yesterday.

That is Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain discussing taking action against Syria with President Obama and National Security Advisor Susan Rice.

Y'all remember Susan Rice don'tcha? She was the person who the Right Wing lost their minds over concerning Benghazi.

She was also the person that McCain and Graham mercilessly smeared, even refusing to apologize after e-mails were made public which absolved her of blame.

Yep, must have been AWKWARD!

However I have no doubt that President Obama and National Security Advisor Rice handled it professionally, and did not use it as an opportunity to shame the two Senators. After all SOMEBODY has to be the grown up.

Now I assume that Rand Paul, like his father before him, will continue to stick to his guns. But let's face it by doing so he simply isolates himself even further from the mainstream. And that goes for his teabbagging buddy Ted Cruz as well.

If this goes off cleanly, and ends up being another feather in Obama's war bonnet, that will only reinforce his military credibility and help the next Democrat seeking office. ESPECIALLY if that Democrat is Hillary Clinton.

However any possible GOP contenders who do not support this action will look weak and open themselves up to attacks from the very people who typically support them without question. Essentially the President has taken the Republican's biggest selling point, being strong on defense, completely away from them.

(Photos courtesy of the Obama Diary.)

37 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:51 AM

    "Whatcha going to do buddy?"

    Love that picture caption.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous9:55 AM

    Think about it, you can't let innocent human beings get gassed, especially women and children.

    WTF is wrong with Sarah Palin?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:37 AM

      That's a line the international community has decided should NOT be crossed. If they are allowed to get away with this atrocity with no repercussions, then all other lines of human decency are obliterated.

      War is ugly and horrible, but there are things no human should do to another human, especially a child.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:20 PM

      Chemicals were used in WW1 and afterwards all countries agreed never to use them again.

      I stand w/President Obama on this - although it took me quite awhile to get there because I don't like war!

      No country should use chemicals on their own people much less the possibility of them doing so on other countries! (If they haven't already!)

      Chemicals kill ALWAYS and it can be a slow, horrible death!

      Delete
  3. Sally in MI9:56 AM

    Wait? So Boehner finally returned to DC, you know, where he supposedly works? Amazing. Now, Johnny, try to get your colleagues to act like some sort of adults, if you can manage to do that at least onece since they handed you that stupid gavel. And no, Pelosi is not doing your job for you this time (but man, I can't wait to see her back in charge in January 2015.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:39 AM

      This will be a good test of just how much (or how little) power he has over his side of the aisle.

      We already know it's a LOT less than Pelosi ever did!

      Delete
    2. Sally in MI12:08 PM

      Nancy never once brought a bill to the floor without the votes to pass it. I don't think John has a clue what his job entails, other than going out for drinks and shaking hands, and blaming the President for everything. He is such an Palin.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous1:08 PM

      Can you imagine how much will get done under the presidency of Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi running the House of the U.S. Congress again.

      Love the idea!!!

      Delete
  4. Anonymous10:02 AM

    The isolationist fundy tea-baggers are sure going to howl over this, to further stick it to the RINO's and crony-capitalist-elite-establishment-washington-insider players.

    Get your Tweeting and Facebook fingers working Wasillabily - whose only foreign credentials are making fun of Senator Kerry's long face in Kosovo as the National Guard's Commander-in-Chief and whatnot. And let's not forget getting paid to be humiliated in epic style by the Indians in India.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous10:03 AM

    Lindsey flitted in there? He's more femme than Susan. (Not that there is anything wrong with that!)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous10:13 AM

    Sorry this OT:
    This news going to make sarah palin's head explode: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2409820/Wedding-bells-Katie-Couric-TV-host-gets-engaged-56-financier-boyfriend-proposes-spectacular-diamond-ring.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:51 AM

      Congratulations to our favorite journalist of the 2008 election cycle. . .

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:28 AM

      Katie Couric is so far ahead of Sarah Palin in that she is: better educated, much smarter, financially leaps and bounds ahead, more physically attractive (hasn't aged like Sarah) and has wonderful daughters that have NOT landed under management of the law (for criminal deeds!) or pregnant w/o spouses. Plus, Katie has a gorgeous smile which she uses often AND the classy woman is a huge success!

      You go, Katie. Your fiancé is a cutie and keeper!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:07 PM

      11:28 X2!! He is cute, and has a good responsible job. Good match for Katie. He is the classy type, who would not give skanky $carah the time of day.

      Delete
    4. Anita Winecooler6:03 PM

      I'm so happy for "the perky one with the microphone" who famously asked hardball questions of Baldy like "What do you read?" LMAO.

      Rachel just ended her show with an "imagine if" scenario involving a President McCain and Vice President Palin "handling" a situation like Syria.....

      OUCH That had to leave a mark!!!!

      Delete
  7. Anonymous10:20 AM

    Teh stoopid! It tastes like burning!

    The B.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous10:22 AM

    If I wanted our country to bomb others .. I would have voted Republican.

    Disappointed in President Obama.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:50 AM

      Have you seen the photos of the dead, gassed children on Gryphen's older post? Can you truly not be called to do something, even in some tactical strikes?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:46 AM

      I"m not at all convinced that the Assad regime has done this. I do not believe a word from our government on this.

      Ask yourself: Why, if Assad has been killing his people wholesale for over two years, and getting away w/it, would he use chemical weapons and invite the U.S. furious response? Who has the motivation? Who benefits?

      Aside: Kerry is from the State of Raytheon.

      Who benefits?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:53 AM

      Obama never promised he wouldn't ever use military forces in another country. You may not agree to this particular use of force, but don't pretend Obama ever said he was a non-intervenionist.

      Delete
    4. According to French intelligence they have been doing this for awhile: http://tinyurl.com/phqd6na

      They just did it on a larger scale.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous1:18 PM

      I don't believe anything our Government has to say about this.
      They were dancing around the word"genocide"definition knowing full well that hundreds of thousands of Tutsi men,women and children were being massacred, hacked to pieces, where was the concern for the little children then?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous3:38 PM

      1:18 But, wasn't that done while Bush was in power? We caught Bush in lies w/Cheney and others of his administration.

      This is different - President Obama is giving the facts and the media and various politicians are screwing things up and confusing everyone royally! To include Chris Matthews on MSNBA. He needs to be taken off that network!

      Delete
  9. Anonymous10:28 AM

    What exactly is the desired outcome of a strike against Syria? If it is only to weaken the current government, then it will prolong fighting and so in revenge for the death of about 300-1500 people, 5000+ will die.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:49 AM

      Kind of like tens of thousands that have died in Afghanistan and Iraq to avenge the death of 3,000 in Manhattan?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:10 PM

      Thos wars were planned BEFORE 9/11. Cheney had already divided Iraq up between the energy companies, like Enron (Kenny Boy Lay) The minutes of that meeting have been sealed, and likely destroyed by now, covering Cheney's wrinkled arse.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous6:44 PM

      I want to see Ken Lay's body. Ponder that one for a minute.
      Vernd

      Delete
  10. Anonymous10:28 AM

    With all the complaints and criticisms and jabs and name-calling of this President from many of these GOP colleagues, it must sting them now that they have to submit to him as President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief, knowing that the world watches. All those attacks against the President, of being unpatriotic or socialist or un-American or not understand the Founding Fathers and blahblahblah, has to make them squirm in their seats while they watch the same man they accused, showing courageous leadership, who is not "leading from behind" but leading through these rough patches.

    It must really wee-wee Sarah up - her crown-toppler is the one citizens all look up to now, in a non-partisan way, in the nation's time of need, and there she sits, trying on wigs, waiting for and invitation from Greta or Sean......and it never comes. She's relegated to the bin of history and her words are brittle pieces of rotted salad.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous10:37 AM

    I love our President! He has such class and beats those Republicans in Congress every step of the way! Just one at a time - very carefully placed - one foot in front of the other - slow and deliberate.

    And, thank you, Ms. Rice, for being a classy woman. I know I would have wanted to knock both their blocks off due to their having said such evil things about you. Their previous commentary (prior to your Hearing) was proven incorrect and to be nothing but lies. (McCain and Graham)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:13 PM

      The gop can not tolerate smart women. That is why women like Bachmann and Palin are part of their group. Dumb and uninformed both of them, just perfect for the gop. Hillary is a threat to them, since she is smarter than all of them. Classy Susan Rice, also, too.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous10:43 AM

    Here's the truth - while there is lots of discussion in DC regarding our next steps in Syria, President Obama has green lighted a raid by special forces to destroy the chemical weapons in Syria, thus reducing the chances of further gas attacks on Syrian citizens.

    This is in my dreams - and I wish it were true. I really don't see any kind of "win" if we get physically involved in Syria. This is an internal civil war which includes acts of war that are beyond the pale as a civilized society. I am as horrified as anyone, but doubt that any interference by Western powers will do anything more than create a bigger firestorm, both in Syria and at home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What you say makes a lotta sense. Still tearing my hair out, not knowing what to think.

      For once in my life, I wish I was from Noo Yawk, where they know everything already. -:)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:15 PM

      I hope and pray that they are not getting their information from anyone like Ahmed Chalabi, the liar who Cheney touted as informed before invading Iraq. They would have done it anway, but he came in handy.

      Delete
  13. Oh, paging GinaM! I just had to share this piece of deliciously delusional wisdom from the pee pond:

    jerseymark• 2 hours ago

    "What we are seeing here is Sarah's reverse influence. That is when politicians who can not stand the thought of doing what Sarah says they should do, come out and do the opposite..."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:11 PM

      OMG....I just copied that same comment after visiting THAT place and was going to post it. Thought I would refresh the comments 1st to see if anyone else had read it as well. Wow...just simply....WOW. These people are so delusional.

      Delete
  14. So, basically, Republicans are cool on bombing brown people who are so far away they can never get revenge, but the same Republicans will never support universal health care for their own people.

    You have to admit, Assad is a bit more direct about getting rid of his own people.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anita Winecooler5:49 PM

    You can SOOOO tell that Boehner wants to be anywhere but there! Looks like he's showing the President how big the fish he caught on vacation, not the one he caught, the one that got away.


    Is that THE same Senator McCain as the one who played poker on his i phone during the three hour hearing?

    http://tinyurl.com/oszwqk4

    Gee, you'd THINK a senator could pay attention and not dither with a card game when the topic is so serious.

    ReplyDelete

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