Lincoln Chafee: Hillary "afraid the war would be over as fast as Gulf One"

So why did any Democrats buy this pathetic propaganda being peddled by Bush & Co.? Essentially it was due to political cowardice, he says. The netroots have been saying this for years, though it's interesting to see it being acknowledged by some who had an inside view.

“The top Democrats were at their weakest when trying to show how tough they were,” writes Chafee. “They were afraid that Republicans would label them soft in the post-September 11 world, and when they acted in political self-interest, they helped the president send thousands of Americans and uncounted innocent Iraqis to their doom...

<snip>

A bewildered Chafee, seeking an explanation, turned to an unnamed Democratic senator who opposed the war but was well-respected by his party’s leaders. This senator tells Chafee “in confidence” what concerned the Democrats. “They are afraid the war will be over as fast as Gulf One. Few will die, the oil will flow and gasoline will cost 90 cents a gallon.”

http://www.dailykos.com/tag/Lincoln%20Chafee

Chafee remains contemptuous of Democrats who helped Bush to gin up this unnecessary invasion.

That includes New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, whom Chafee says put her presidential ambitions above standing up to Mr. Bush and the rush to war in Iraq.

“I find it surprising now, in 2008, how many Democrats are running for president after shirking their constitutional duty to check and balance this president,” writes Chafee...

“They argue that the president duped them into war, but getting duped does not exactly recommend their leadership. Helping a rogue president start an unnecessary war should be a career-ending lapse of judgment.”

for the authorization did it to protect their own career. they all have blood on their hands. there were a few who put the right thing first and didn't vote for it. They did the right thing for the country. The others have deaths on their hands.

The country doesn't like the war, but we don't really give a damn. WE CAN'T AFFORD OUR FOOD.

Who cares about them and the 4,000 dead soldiers or the blood all over Hilly's hands.

Now I do hope you keep crying boo hoo for the Iraqis (having done nothing to save a single Iraqi life--how about allowing immigration to the United States? Oops.) while Americans are being thrown out of their homes. GO FOR IT! We love hearing how much more important they are than we are. Wasn't George going to give them free health care? Until the doctors ran away?

president.

The two trillon for war? It was good for Hill, that's what really matters here.

No she didn't make a mistake. It got her this far, after all.

it to some people.

No accountabilty for Hill. She's above accountability. She's Hill.

Since Barack has repeatedly voted to fund this homicidal venture, I am sure you can prorate the exact amount of blood dripping from his inviolate hands.

And let me know when he sponsors legislation to bring the Iraqi refugees HERE.

I guess if you voted to completely wreck another country that would be the least you could do.

It's not quite the same as not bombing and invading in the first place, but it's better than nothing.

Here is the permalink:

Chafee dishes on pro-war Democrats
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/30/191653/018/37/444394

this thread develops a little better context http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4301806

"Captain here is your winnings".

this statement from Chafee is full of nothing but The Truth:

“The top Democrats were at their weakest when trying to show how tough they were,” writes Chafee. “They were afraid that Republicans would label them soft in the post-September 11 world, and when they acted in political self-interest, they helped the president send thousands of Americans and uncounted innocent Iraqis to their doom..."

That bears repeating.

during city council meetings while mayor.

the senators that voted for the war and waxed poetically about going to war at the time (Hillary being a prime suspect here) wagered it would be a breeze.

However, at the same time Obama predicted what a quagmire it would be.

Any objective person can go back and look at their comments at the time and arrive at the same conclusion.

Gore, Dean, Obama were all right.

And Clinton was all wrong.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to notice the total lack of any direct or even indirect quote by HRC in your post of a post of third degree hearsay.

That doesn't do outstanding things for your credibility.

They are hypnotized and spew what ever is given to them without even considering the source. Pathetic.

"proud" flamebaiter, that as dumb as a pet rock.

Or are both of those option wrong?

What's the real story?

They thought it would be another in and out and if they opposed it they would be hammered as unpatriotic. I always wondered about that. I just thought it would be impossible to prove the war would be a mess unless you had the mess. A prevented war can always be used as the glorious would have been. It never occurred to me that they thought Georgie was as smart as his dad and didn't realize he was out to outdo the old man.

said the little Hillarzombie you.

for president.

Or maybe just phenomenal debilitating calculation overriding all judgement and prior experience.

LONG after the lies of WMD and Al Qaeda ties had been publicly exposed.

Not to mention her absolutely shameless blaming of the Iraqis for failing to seize the golden ring of "democracy" that we had so gallantly placed within their reach.