Coulter logic: Bush appointee's letter a "good sign" of Clinton's likely relationship with Pentagon if elected pres.
On the July 20 edition of Fox News' Your World with Neil Cavuto, during a discussion of a letter sent to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) from Undersecretary of Defense Eric Edelman accusing Clinton of "reinforc[ing] enemy propaganda" by seeking information on the Pentagon's plans for an eventual U.S. exit from Iraq, guest host David Asman wondered what "this say[s] about what kind of relationship she's going to have as commander in chief, with the Pentagon?" Right-wing pundit Ann Coulter replied that the relationship may be "a little bit tense." Asman then cited purported "tension" between former President Bill Clinton and "military commanders," and asked: "Are we in for that again if Hillary is elected?" Coulter replied: "I suspect so, and this is a good sign of it." Yet neither Asman nor Coulter mentioned that Edelman -- a former adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney -- is a political appointee, appointed by President Bush in 2005, and that presumably such positions at the Pentagon would be filled by her own appointees if she is elected president. As such, Edelman's letter is in no way indicative of the Defense Department's relationship with Clinton in her own administration.
During the segment, Coulter went on to assert: "[Y]ou can't get the Democratic nomination unless you sign on fully with the traitor party."
In a May 23 letter to Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Sen. Clinton requested that he provide Congress "briefings on what current contingency plans exist for the future withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq" and asserted that it is "imperative that the Department of Defense prepare plans for the phased redeployment of U.S. forces." Responding on Gates' behalf, Edelman wrote in a July 15 letter: "Premature and public discussion of the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq reinforces enemy propaganda that the United States will abandon its allies in Iraq, much as we are perceived to have done in Vietnam, Lebanon and Somalia." A July 19 Associated Press article on Edelman's response reported that Clinton spokesman Phillipe Reines "said the senator would respond to his [Edelman's] boss, Defense Secretary Robert Gates" and that "Clinton aides said the letter ignored important military matters and focuses instead on political payback."
As Media Matters for America documented, a later version of the AP report also noted that Republican Sen. Richard Lugar (IN) shared Clinton's concerns. According to the AP, Lugar "warned ... that if U.S. military leaders and Congress 'are not prepared for these contingencies, they may be executed poorly, especially in an atmosphere in which public demands for troop withdrawals could compel action on a political timetable.' "
The AP noted that Edelman is a "one-time aide to Vice President Dick Cheney." As Newsweek reported in February: "During the run-up to the Iraq war, Edelman served as Cheney's foreign-policy adviser, directly under the vice president's then chief of staff and national-security aide I. Lewis (Scooter) Libby. After a two-year stint as ambassador to Turkey, Edelman was then nominated by President Bush in 2005 to replace [former Undersecretary of Defense Douglas] Feith, a key ally of the vice president's office in the often-contentious pre-war debates over Iraq intelligence."
According to a July 20 AP report, Clinton personally "responded Friday [July 20] in a letter to Edelman's boss, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, asking if he agreed with Edelman's charge." The AP reported that the letter asserted that "Edelman had ducked her questions and 'instead made spurious arguments to avoid addressing contingency planning.' " The AP also reported that Clinton "repeated her request for a briefing -- classified if necessary -- on the issue of end-of-war planning" and that she called Edelman's "claim 'outrageous and dangerous.' "
From the July 20 edition of Fox News' Your World with Neil Cavuto:
ASMAN: Well, outrageous and dangerous. That's what Hillary Clinton says about a Pentagon official accusing her of helping the enemy by asking our military to draw up plans to leave Iraq. Ann Coulter, as you might imagine, is outraged by Hillary's response. Ann Coulter, Hillary says that Pentagon criticism of her is outrageous and dangerous. What say you?
COULTER: Well, I wouldn't exactly say I'm outraged. But if this is the woman who wants to be the commander in chief, I think she might want to show a little more courage in standing up to political criticism. I mean, I think all these Democrats who are constantly saying "Pull out, pull out" should just be called --
ASMAN: Well let's say specifically what it is. Defense undersecretary Eric Edelman said that the withdrawal talk -- the kind of withdrawal talk you hear from Hillary -- quote, "reinforces enemy propaganda."
COULTER: Right.
ASMAN: True?
COULTER: Absolutely true. And you don't see Hillary or the Democrats saying, "Well, of course it isn't." No, what they say is, "We're immune to criticism. Ooh, someone hurt our feelings. Boo hoo hoo."
ASMAN: What does this say about -- if Hillary Clinton is elected, what kind of command -- what kind of relationship she's going to have as commander in chief with the Pentagon?
COULTER: That's a good question. Well, unless the Pentagon signs up with helping the enemy, probably a little bit -- little bit tense.
ASMAN: But we remember some tension in the first Clinton administration --
COULTER: Oh, yes.
ASMAN: -- back in 1993 with the Pentagon. There were a lot of occasions in which the military commanders complained about the Clintons. Are we in for that again if Hillary is elected?
COULTER: I suspect so. This is a good sign of it. And congratulations to Edelman for finally speaking truthfully about this. I mean, don't know why more Americans aren't saying that when you are constantly saying, "We're withdrawing, we're losing" -- we have the greatest military, oh, in the history of the world, but we're losing to a bunch of head-chopping savages? No, I don't think so. And yet, one entire political party keeps telling Americans that we are losing and we've got -- we'll set a date for when we'll withdraw the troops. It's sort of surprising from Hillary because she, more than the other Democrats, has been resisting the MoveOn.org nuts, but not anymore.
ASMAN: Well, that's the question. We've seen the effect. We just talked about it to Ms. [sister of 9-11 victim Debra] Burlingame, about the effect of MoveOn.org on the Democratic leadership. Hillary sort of resisted that for the longest time. Has now she given in to that movement in the Democratic Party?
COULTER: Yes. Apparently they won't vote for her no matter what she says. And you cannot get -- she is making the calculation at least, and I will trust her instincts on this -- you can't get the Democratic nomination unless you sign on fully with the traitor party.
You can't use the words "Coulter" and "logic" in the same sentence - she has none.....
I HOPE this is an indicator for how a Hillary Presidency will pan out. She'll ask for information she has every right to, as a representative of the PEOPLE. She gets instead a smart-ass insulting reply from a Bush appointee who NOBODY voted for. The next step is she'll FIRE HIS ASS.
And that's how it'll work. The only question will be how they managed to miss firing him earlier.
That's exactly what I was thinking. It would of course be something outrageously offensive to this administration and its lackeys and supporters: an elected President who holds people accountable and won't let people get away with anything in the name of "supporting the troops".
I can't wait until this joke of a presidency is over. I don't care who wins, ANYTHING will be better than the current chimp.
Actually, anything with a "D" after his or her name would be better. Otherwise, you run the risk of having the same crooks and liars held over in various government positions from the Bush Misadministration.
Oh waaaah, sounds like sour grapes from Coulter. You can't even get elected dog catcher Ann.
doggone it, Sen H Clinton gets informed before Coulter does ?
Isn't that a bit redundant? Electing her a dog catcher, and Mannthrax looks like a ... well, let me apologize upfront to the dogs ...
Of course not. All the dogs would piss on her leg.
Why isn't she in jail yet for her multiple voting violations? Do republicans have a different set of rules than the rest of us?
Story goes that she had her former boyfriend/FBI agent intercede with the case and get it thrown out on the grounds that she used the wrong address because she was being being stalked, without evidence. Last I read, the Sheriff closed the investigation, but the Elections Chief is still questioning the whole thing, but that was in May.
Bradblog has followed it very closely.
That was one, but she is apparently registered to vote in three states - florida, new york and I think the 3rd was new hampshire? That's a crime as well. One "dismissed", but at least one more pending...
Maybe some of these Pentagon hacks are on the kickback gravy train? Maybe we should take a long hard look at how our money is being spent over there. Those of you old enough will remember all the hubbub over $300 toilet seats and $400 hammers in Defense Department contracts back in the 60s and 70s. According to the documentary "Iraq for Sale", the private contractors in Iraq are wasting our money in ways that make a $400 hammer seem like a bargain.
In a May 23 letter to Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Sen. Clinton requested that he provide Congress "briefings on what current contingency plans exist for the future withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq" and asserted that it is "imperative that the Department of Defense prepare plans for the phased redeployment of U.S. forces."
Undersecretary of Defense Eric Edelman accusing Clinton of "reinforc[ing] enemy propaganda" by seeking information on the Pentagon's plans for an eventual U.S. exit from Iraq
The AP reported that the letter asserted that "Edelman had ducked her questions and 'instead made spurious arguments to avoid addressing contingency planning.' " The AP also reported that Clinton "repeated her request for a briefing -- classified if necessary -- on the issue of end-of-war planning" and that she called Edelman's "claim 'outrageous and dangerous.' "
Hillary should be applauded for:
a) taking the initiative in requesting Gates brief Congress on Iraq [plans].
b) for having no fear in describing Edelman's reply as outrageous and dangerous. Which it was.
Now I'm gonna figure at least a part of her motive was purely political. As a candidate for President it was a heads up move, that should please the vast majority of Americans who are against this war & will view this as Hillary being tough/strong.
Asman & Coulter attempt to spin all of this. No surprise there. Devoted FOX viewers will probably lap it up.
Jeter, this ain't a date or anything, but I do love the way you can be a middle of the road type of guy...
Thanks Snoop, and maybe if it's *Hat Day* we can call it a date ;-)
I usually label myself a *moderate* Conservative, but I think I'm really a *Centrist* like my buddy Bill Clinton.
My wife says it's because I'm a Libra [no not Liberal] and we Libras tend to weigh everything back & forth in order to come to a fair conclusion.
I do try to be fair. I guess that's why I seem very "middle of the road"...you just never know what side of an issue I might come down on.
Heck even I'm not sure until I've considered it up & down & back & forth.
Or maybe I'm just schitzo :-O
Jeter, baby.....I'm a libra too....September 30th. Oooooh. Baum chaka baum, baum. Now if it weren't for that vanity and stubborness of yours (oh and the fact that we're both happily married), then we could date. Oops, that smoking thing killed the possibility though. I guess it's back to Ann and her Johnny Walker Red and marlboros (I know she must be a marlboro woman with all that bravada). She is just so scintilating.
I can imitate Ann Coulter if I plug my nose, use a very affected voice and say really insane things. It cracks my husband up.
My B.D. is October 12th, Columbus Day...see now you can't possibly forget. I expect Birthday Greetings when the time comes ;-)
Julia, we Libras are purported to be the best looking, fairest & most artistically/literarily gifted of the horoscope.
Which would explain your poetic talent :-)
And my magnificent good looks ;-)
I bet you're a looker too [don't let your hubby read this...he'll think I'm flirting with you]
Oh yeah Libras are the horoscopes biggest flirts too :-)
And some a tad vain...
J2, I must admit I'm a shameless flirt. And I've been told that I'm cuter than "two speckled pups" (remember I live in Texas). I'll try to remember your B'day, fellow libran.
At least you're not a Pisces, like me! Two fish giving each other a BJ, how confusing is that! :)
Geez Snoop, first it was cucumbers...now it's fish.
Do you Pisces all have one track minds ;-)
Naw, us fish just goes round and round. Except for the pirahnah fish, my flesh eating bro's go round and round as they close in...
ouch!
So...you're saying he's either a yellow line or a dead armadillo?
Asman . . . . . . hmm, wasn't he on an episode of Seinfield?
Now that was one of the classic Seinfeld episodes.
But weren't they all? :-)
''we have the greatest military, oh, in the history of the world, but we're losing to a bunch of head-chopping savages? ''
That is a seriously insulting bit of political hubris. The US is approaching 4000 combat deaths, a horrifying number in itself, not even mentioning the countless thousands of other Americans who have their lives changed for ever without actually dying. You might be able to argue that having directly or indirectly killed in the vicinity of 700,000 Iraqis (Lancet), some portion of whom can be described as killers or terrorists or whatever suits your agenda, that the US isn't actually 'losing' in Iraq. THe point is, the US can't win either. Nobody even knows what the definition of winning is, least of all those running the game. By my count, we've won a few times already, mission accomplished, Iraqi Parliament and what not.
Coulter is utterly mischaracterising what's happening here. I'm sure she was elligible for military service, why not put her money where her mouth is rather than playing chess with people's lives and peace in the middle east.
Coulter understands that the Iraq invasion/occupation/liberation/whatever is exactly like a childrens battle trading card game.
The US has an attack power of 40 and the miscellaneous bad guys have a defence power of 5. US wins and anything else is treasonous lies.
Fun Fact: if you mispell it as "treasonus" and google it to check your spelling, you'll get funny websites.
She falls into the chickenhawk category. Joined there by too many people. Some just as loud and obnoxious as she is. All happy to have other people die for their idiology.
There were a lot of occasions in which the military commanders complained about the Clintons.
It beats our military personel dying in a questionable, ill-conceived, unplanned -- other than "bring it on" -- and most likely futile conflict half a world away. And no, sending more troops by itself does not make it a plan, any more than dropping more balls on the ground as they're thrown at you makes you a juggler.
I am not against fighting terrorism and was not against ousting Saddam but a little forethought people. It is time -- really quite past it -- that someone said, "Could we get a little preview of the stupidity awaiting in the wings."
No Ann, the exchange of email between Clinton and Gates simply shows up the disgusting sorts of people Bush 2 has appointed when he appointed Edelman or should I say Cheney appointed.. On the other hand, the hate-filled remarks from you and Hannity show how the Clinton run for the presidency is getting to both of you. Frankly, I never intended to vote for Mrs. Clinton since I am a Republican, although anyone except Bush 2 would do for me. But all your harassment makes her a very sympathetic person. Furthermore, her poll numbers must drive the uptight far right nuts. So we shall elect a Democrat this time and hope that a little sanity will return to the Republican party when the Democrats control both the House and the Senate by increased numbers and when we also have elected a Democratic President. The sooner the better I say. And when that happens, you can pat yourselves on your backs and know that you accomplished this and that you did your best to help in her election and other Democrats. So I say, keep it up Ann and Hannity. Your ideas just spur even us moderate Republicans to leave you guys high and dry.
I hope that while you turn your back on this current batch of republicans, after the 08 election you and other moderates like you return to the republican party and drive the current batch of neocons back where they belong; to the outer fringes of the party. I pray you and other "moderates" take the party back and restore it to what it once was and what it should be again. Maybe a sound thrashing in 08 will be the final nial in the coffin for these extremists
Exactly. This is why I never understand people who complain about Coulter's access to news media. We need more of her, not less, because every time she's on she reminds us just how awful the far right in this country is. They should be known as the Ann Coulter Conservatives and the Rush Limbaugh Republicans.
Why do they let Couter on TV anyways? We all know that he's just gonna say something propagandizing.
No, wait. I forgot, this is the Fox Noise Channel. It's all popaganda, all the time.
Faux News. Unfair and Unbalanced.
Which is why Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Dennis Miller, Oliver North, and Neil Cavuto all work there - they're unbalanced, too.
Ann Coulter is the epitome of Philistinism:
“A person called a Philistine (in the relevant sense), is said to despise or undervalue art, beauty, intellectual content, and/or spiritual values. Philistines are also said to be materialistic, to favor conventional social values unthinkingly, and to favor forms of art that have a cheap and easy appeal.”
I challenge anyone to find a better description of this lovely woman.Ann Coulter is a phillistine
She calls all of us libertines
Because we are progressive
She tends to get obsessive
So she has to vent her rabid spleen
If we adamantly refuse to discuss withdrawal no matter what, doesnt that encourage the Iraq politicians to continue to dither and stall indefinitely? No one ever criticizes the sort of stance Coulter takes as discouraging political solutions or a sense of urgency on the part of the Iraq government. Isnt it healthy for them to know there are discussions about withdrawal on the table. Coulter seems to feel that the founders made a mistake when they made the decision about whether or not to conduct a war one for the people through congress. that necessarily involves pro and con debate. Coulter would prefer a country where the military decides whether or not to wage war and the people are forbidden from saying anything against the military's decision. She should move to a country where that is the system. She obviously is against our constitutional system. She openly encourages enemies of the constitution as does Edelman.
Gee ... an indication of the relationship between the Dem Prez and the Pentagon ... would explain how the early days of the Clinton presidency had some military SNAFUs, because they didn't want to give Clinton any kind of victory ... can you say three naked bodies dragged through the street, and then blaming it on Clinton?
And yet you don't hear the Repukes pointing out the inconsistencies from what was once said by a Repuke ... you go into war with the army you inherit (meaning Clinton inherited the army from Bush41, and the year 1993 had its share of screwups) - and that the army that Bush43 inherited from Clinton did a pretty bangup job in the months after 9/11 despite being "decimated" according to Bush's own debate rhetoric ...
'm noticing news organizations are characterizing this as Clinton being involved in a "feud" with the Pentagon.
This is a gross mischaracterization.
Hillary Clinton is an elected representative of the American people. She sits on a committee in the Senate which has oversight of the military. She is fulfilling the role for which she was elected by asking for information from the Pentagon.
Eric Edelman is a recess appointment. He would never have been approved for his job in the Pentagon if it had come up for a vote.
Under normal circumstances Edelman would be fired for insubordination but very little about the Bush White House is normal.