The Candidates Talk About War Today

The Presidential contenders had something to say about war today. John Edwards said that Bush is waging war, “without authorization,”….”because the 2002 authorization did not give George Bush authority to use U.S. combat troops to police a civil war, which is exactly what’s happening right now.” Edwards made these claims on a conference call with reporters. The Republicans were quick to point out that Edwards did vote for war in Iraq while he was in the Senate. Hillary Clinton, in a Senate speech, said, “It would be a mistake of historical proportion if the administration thought that the 2002 resolution authorizing force against Iraq was a blank check for the use of force against Iran without further congressional authorization.” She made this speech shortly after Bush’s conference this morning where he said he was certain the Iranians where supplying deadly weapons which where being used against American soldiers in Iraq. Hillary also said, “We cannot and we must not allow recent history to repeat itself,” she said. “This president was allowed for too long to commit blunder after blunder under cover of darkness provided by an allied Republican Congress. In dealing with the threats posed by the Iranian regime, which has gained its expanding influence in Iraq and the region as a result of the administration’s policies, President Bush must not be allowed to act without the authority and oversight of Congress.” Looks like Hillary is trying to point out that she learned a lesson from last time she voted for war, yet at the same time she wants to stay tough on terrorist. Hillary explained, “As we discuss potential evidence of Iranian complicity in supplying arms to insurgents along with the refusal to suspend their nuclear ambitions, we need to deliver a strong message to Iran that we will not stand by and tolerate this behavior,” she said. “However, we need to deliver that message forcefully through direct talks.” Tough talk from Hillary. On Larry King today Rudy Giuliani said he wasn’t to confident the war can be turned around, “I’m not confident it’s all going to turn around,” he said, “Who knows that? I mean, you never know that in the middle of the war.” Giuliani went on to say, “I’m confident that we have to try to make a turnaround, and we just can’t walk out, and that it is critical to us that things get to the point in Iraq that we have some degree of stability and not the way they are now,” Giuliani continued. “Because if we leave it the way it is now and we run out, then we’re going to face further difficulties in the future.” Larry King went on to ask Giuliani about other stuff like: gay rights, he’s for it; abortion, he’s for it; gun control, he’s for it; and appointing conservative judges, he’s for that too. The Giuliani camp is also trying to figure out how Giuliani can still get paid for his speaking engagements. He gets $100,000 a speech, and is on a motivational tour with the likes of Zig Ziglar. This could be seen as a conflict, and they are checking with the FEC to see how to best handle the rest of Giuliani’s speaking tour. In the past this type of stuff has attracked the attention of election regulators. In 2003 Wesly Clark returned money earned from some motivational speeches to avoid giving his opponents ammunition. Since it is his job, I don’t see any real conflict. Looks like Barack Obama might get a Governor endorsement on Saturday. Virginia Governor, Timothy M. Kaine is expected to endorse Obama for President at the Democratic Party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson Day fundraising gala in Richmond on Saturday night, an event Obama will headline, and Kaine will attend along with Democratic Sen. Jim Webb and former Gov. Mark R. Warner.
Alan Cosgrove

This entry was posted in Politicians, War and Peace. Bookmark the permalink.