And not for the reasons we are debating…..I am scared because for the first time in 50 years I am on the same side of an argument as my conserv friends……it scares me because many liberals are also opposed to our intervention in Syria……even conservs are battling among themselves on the necessity of the force by the US……
When President Obama addresses the nation on Tuesday about Syria, he’ll no doubt be hoping to sway members of Congress, too. Just how tricky that will be is made clear by the Washington Post, which reports that opposition to any such military strike has managed the rare feat of uniting liberal Democrats and libertarian Republicans. The story focuses on Alan Grayson on the left and Ted Yoho on the right, both Florida representatives. “We’re gonna win,” says Grayson. “Pretty sure.” The Post‘s count suggests they’ve got a clear advantage. It has more than 100 members “solidly against” military action, and the same number leaning against. Another 185 are undecided. Those definitely in favor? Just 25, though that includes the top two leaders from each party (Boehner, Cantor, Pelosi, and Hoyer.) “This is a remarkable moment in American politics,” write David A. Fahrenthold and Paul Kane. “A demonstration that the power of parties may be ebbing after a period of strong partisan discipline.” Things are much closer in the Senate, and Harry Reid predicted today that he’ll get his 60 votes, reports Politico. Meanwhile, a memo from Cantor to GOP lawmakers says they should expect a vote “in the next two weeks.” That suggests to the Hill that House leaders are considering delaying the vote from next week to the one following.
In the olden days I was a long hippie radical and was put down constantly by “high and tight” conservs, the old hard hat conserv….but now things have changed….scary!
As the ongoing debate in Congress makes clear, the decision on whether to strike Syria isn’t the usual bipartisan one. Here are two voices on the right who come to very different conclusions:
- Peggy Noonan, opposed: What’s the strategy again? “A small, limited strike will look merely symbolic, a face-saving measure,” she writes in the Wall Street Journal. “A strong, broad strike opens the possibility of civil war, and a victory for those as bad as or worse than Assad.” The world must send a message to Syria’s regime, but a military strike isn’t the answer. “Sometimes it shows strength to hold your fire.” Read her full column.
- Bill Kristol, in favor: Republicans might be tempted to vote no to signal their lack of confidence in President Obama, but that would be a mistake, writes the editor of the Weekly Standard. They’d be weakening the country along with the president. “A party that for at least two generations has held high the banner of American leadership and strength should not cast a vote that obviously risks a damaging erosion of this country’s stature and credibility abroad,” he writes. “For reasons both fastidiously statesmanlike and crassly political, Yes is the right vote.” Read his full column.
I agree with Peggy Noonan! I have NEVER agreed with her on anything! We may be one the same page but for different reasons…..but still…..I Agree With Noonan!
I keep waiting for me to wake up from this nightmare so I can run outside to see if Hell is truly frozen.
Am I dreaming?
And here’s something to confuse matters even more:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/08/syria-chemical-weapons-not-assad-bild
I was just reading something about this….right now I have a hard time believing anyone…I am researching and will post in a day or so….
Well, it’s about time the opposing political thinkers found something to agree about. It is not a nightmare – it is something to be savoured. Watching and reading the American political debate from this side of the Atlantic, it amazes me how much vitriol there is from people, who are articulate and inteligent, yet stoop to the most hateful statements about each other.
You have this situation where some Republicans would allow America’s reputation as the tough guy slip just because Obama (who is a terrorist and a Kenyan in many of their eyes) proposed the air strikes. Or they might support him, knowing that when it goes tits up – they can blame him, as though middle Easy Histoery began with his election.
If I write something on a blog comments box of someone from the right, and offer a different point of view – I am accused of being all sorts of nasty things; like liberal (which in America seems to mean communist or a traitor). I am surprised anything ever gets done in American Politics.
Yes – agreeing with your opponents on some things is a dream – and one you should chase more often.
Hi Bill, for the reason you mention I do not write many comments on right leaning blogs…there a couple that I have a good standing and we can battle back and forth……I am just so surprised after all these years that there are Repubs that can be called anti-wat….I like it but surprised.
Actually Dr. Chuq I don’t think conventional conservatives are opposing a military strike along with progressives. It’s more the new kids within the GOP who are actually libertarians. There’s a lot of them still in the House and this anti-intervention position is consistent with their traditional views. There may be some traditional Republicans who are opposed to this but they do so to keep their seat. They know the extreme right in their districts usually determine who runs each year with their votes in the primaries.
Good point Larry…..I am working on a post about “The Most Electable” theory…..should be done in a week or so depending on what occurs between now and then….if you get my drift.
It’s liberals and conservatives finding their inner libertarian self.
They are still going through detox, It took me about 5 years in the early 1990’s.
I can only wish (hope, pray) enough people wake up by the next election. If not then at least by 2016.
Owen, we all have an inner libertarianism at least on one subject….whether it is abortion or drugs or war….we all have one issue that could be translated into libertarianism. A more important question is….if the US had not been at war for 12 years would the people still be hesitant? My guess is they would not.