Showdown in the House: Petraeus/Crocker testimony Update: Dems pounded for MoveOn ad; Update: Fiasco…microphones broken…hecklers run amok; 1:45pm Eastern update: Petraeus interrupted by hecklers whom Dems refused to remove before his testimony began; Mid-July 2008….drawdown of 15 BCTs expected; Update: Crocker interrupted…the fiasco continues
Update: 4:26pm Eastern. USAToday’s Mark Memmott is trying to get Dems on record regarding the MoveOn.org smear. So far: Two non-response responses from Obama and Clinton’s offices.
More reax “The Peace Racket,” you should. This is what we are up against, people.
And milblogger Austin Bay weighs in on the testimony today, using the microphone failure as a metaphor.
Update 2:33pm Eastern. Here it is…the face of the Democrat Party. They’ve done virtually nothing to disassociate themselves from it. They made their bed. Lie in it:
***
Ambassador Crocker was also interrupted by the Pinkos. Cindy Sheehan was arrested. Amateur hour in the House continues.
2:25pm Eastern. Video of the Code Pinkos’ removal from the hearing room.
Full transcript of Petraeus testimony. Slides here.
1:45pm Eastern. Petraeus is interrupted by hecklers while reviewing the success in Anbar. Rep. Skelton was warned about these thugs before the testimony began. Instead of listening to GOP panel members’ warnings, he snapped at them. What a disgrace.
To summarize, the security situation is improving…The strategy: “Security while transitioning.” No “rush to failure.” Notes the need to fight on the ground and on the Internet. Gen. Petraeus projects draw-down of some 15 Battalion Combat Teams that were part of the surge.
1:29pm Eastern. Recess is over. Skelton warns protesters they’ll be removed. Gen. Petraeus has the floor. “This is my testimony…I wrote this testimony myself.” The military objectives of the serve are mostly being met…the tribal rejection of al Qaeda that started in Anbar has spread to other regions as well…by next summer, a reduction of surge levels achieavable without compromising security…”
1:23pm Eastern. A five-minute recess is called…before the testimony even begins…to fix the damned microphones. Talk about a “fiasco.” Un. Freaking. Believable.
1:17pm Eastern. Well, terrific. Gen. Petraues is supposed to be speaking, but the microphones aren’t working. Meanwhile, there’s a heckler loose in the hearing room. The world is watching the clown Democrats.
GOP Rep. Dan Burton tells Rep. Skelton to remove the hecklers. Apparently, according to mumbling, there are at least 10 protesters with signs.
1:10pm Eastern. GOP Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen also pounds the Dems for the MoveOn smear. The silence of the Dems is deafening.
Speaking in defense of Gen. Petraeus: Retired Colonel Joe Repya.
12:57pm Eastern. A grown-up speaks…GOP Rep Duncan Hunter references the attacks on Petraeus’s character. Duty, honor, country. Those are the principles by which are officers derive their careers and based their careers on…Frankly, Mr. Chairman, the idea that we have spent the week prepping the battlefield attacking the messenger, goes against the honor of this House.
Hunter excoriates the MoveOn disgrace and counterattacks Tom “Fiasco” Lantos. DH: “I think it’s an outrage…bashing the credibility of a general officer whose trademark is integrity, who was unanimously supported in the Senate, and also, Mr. Crocker, who brings an outstanding, unblemished record in the State Dept. to this position.” Hunter counterattacks Lantos on the signficiance of the Anbar awakening.
12:45pm Eastern. You know, there are no shortage of problems with the Maliki government, but I’m getting a little sick of the meme, repeated several times just now by Democrat Rep. Ike Skelton, that the Iraqis aren’t doing anything to help themselves. It’s bull. Read Bill Ardolino’s latest dispatches from Fallujah. See also our Baghdad video report, “Iraqis speak to America.”
***
The hearing begins at 12:30pm. Live audiocast here.
Forget MoveOn. Michael Yon says listen to battalion commanders.
Michael Totten reports on Ramadi.
Worth a re-read: Bryan Preston’s post, “Assessing Iraq,” published after we returned from our embed in January.
The far Left is spitting mad at the Dems:
Rabbi Michael Lerner, the editor of Tikkun magazine, posted the transcript Friday on the website of the Network of Spiritual Progressives, of which he is a co-chair.
The transcript shows that opponents of the war in Iraq plan to try to convince freshman Democrats from conservative districts that they might not get reelected unless the party produces something serious in the way of resistance to the war.
But the call shows the war opponents are having little success because of fears about the impact on next year’s elections if the party is seen as defeatist.
I’ll have more thoughts/liveblogging as the hearing commences. Let’s hear yours.
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Trackbacks
- Old War Dogs
- I’m A Pundit Too » Blog Archive » Why Don't We Shoot Traitors?!
- Stop The ACLU » Blog Archive » “MoveOn.org Calls Petraeus a Traitor”
- LOTUS blog » Blog Archive » “This is my testimony…I wrote this testimony myself.”
- Wake up America-Live Blogging Petraeus
- The Nose On Your Face » Blog Archive » Democrats Mixed In Assessment Of Petraeus Talk
- Wizbang
- Petraeus speech/statement to Congress: Updated at Conservative Times--Republican GOP news source.
- Wonkette
- Pirate’s Cove » >>Americans Never Quit » More On Patraeus
- The Secret of Happiness « A Right Ringtail
- Before the 11th « Diplomatic Proposal
- Moveon.org: no surprise there | Musing
- Neocon News » Petraeus Testimony: House Edition
- Back Home Again
- Michelle Malkin » Vandalism. Desecration. Cowardice. Coddling. Enough is enough.
- Pro General Petraeus, Anti Betray Us Editorial Cartoons « BUUUUURRRRNING HOT
- The Fighting GOP
- 4fc2141305375f3275be
- Michelle Malkin » Petraeus on the Hill; Dems can’t control Code Pinkos
- September, 2007 Archive « Right Minded Online
- The Petraeus hearing « Right Minded Online
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Categories: Iraq
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Is it going to be on c-span?
Translation: The advocates of isolationist/defeatism are in a pickle because they can’t figure out a way to represent the situation unfairly and get away with it.
I like that…”seen as defeatist”. What a hoot that is. Democrats are defeatist and have been since the beginning. You’re right Mr. Conservative Cat, they are having trouble spinning fact into fantasy.
What was that idiot shouting?
I didnt catch it pb.
aj … it’s on CSPAM3
Thanks, It’s on all over the place.
Maha Rushie just tore the Democrats a new one!
He asks:
” Who the hell made Diane Feinstein a military expert to be held above Generals who have served our country for decades?!?”
That is a good question. He asked the same about “Slow Joe” Biden also.
Why should anyone listen to what these hacks have to say about this war? They have been wrong at every turn, and they want defeat in “Bush’s War”, so they can win in ‘08. Well, I’ve got news for you libs, it’s AMERICA that is fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, not the Republican Party!!
Are you on board with AMERICA or not?
I hearby challenge their patriotism.
I really hope this isn’t just going to be a day of liberal grandstanding at the expense of actual testimony.
Geez, let the General speak for crying out loud!
Grab the hook!
This is already a circus.
I agree, get the hook.
Lantos sounds like “The Count”.
Vun, vun peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!
ARGHHHHHHH!!!
well … now we have no doubt what the Dems talking points are that were distributed by Soros for the day … did this Missouri Dip S… miss a single thing over the past 6 years and all the years of the ignored UN sanctions …
20 minutes of pure BS …
OMG.
Enough of the boilerplate Lib doom and gloom, defeatist talking points!
Did he just flat out said they refuse to listen to the facts if they don’t support the Dem position?
YGBSM!
er, flat out -say-
Is it to early to say this guy is full of “bullcrap”???
This is from Hugh Hewitt:
Yes, we are watching and we will not forget this travesty.
As for the Democrats, screw them. I feel nothing for them, they are a bunch of political mercenaries, and they deserve what they get.
let’s see … I don’t remember casting a vote in the Iraq elections … so where does this A..H… get off saying that WE put the wrong people in charge of the government …
Did I miss something? …
More damned polls that we are supposed to yield to as fact … GRRRRRR …
Wow, this is really sickening.
why are they spewing this now? again let the Gen. speak. holy crikey.
Duncan Hunter is up! time for some reality.
My admiration for Petraeus is rising with each of the camera shots of him sitting there … What a poker face … and I have no doubt that inside he is seething … but you would never know it from looking …
Someone shove a rifle in these numbnuts senators hands and drop them off in the desert …
Longest 5 minutes of my life. sheesh.
Honor, duty, country.
Damn straight.
Hunter just opened up a can of whoop-a**
Mr. Lantos is right out of Bramstroker!!!!!!!!!
Question: If the Clinton administration didn’t cut the military so much, would we still be in a hurt locker?
Go get ‘em Duncan Hunter … but anyone want to take bets on which of these “speeches” will be broadcast all over the MSM tonight …
wont be Hunters thats for sure. good call dl.
Somebody demand that the dems condemn the NYT Moveon ad.
I am offended by the comment about Petraeus being 3 years too late … BS … that line of thinking would mean the south would have won the Civil War and we would have lost WWII … Lincoln and Roosevelt went through a lot of generals in charge before they settled on MacArthur, Eisenhower, and Grant …
Such assininity is hard to take …
I wish Gen. Petraeus were accompanied by R.Lee Ermey, so he could order the libs to “drop and give me 25, maggots!! I have not dismissed you yet, turds!”
Yea!!!!!!!!!!
I think this lady Ros-Lehtinen from FL
Just made my day.
Hats off to FL for sending her to Congress.
I wonder if osama is going to wear his move-on.org hat in his next video? Mr. Lantos is way out of line for telling one of our best generals “I don’t buy it”
Rock $ Ros!
unreal, audio probs. give me a break.
typical big government. nobody checked the microphones!
You’d think that for something this important, an A/V check would have been done.
Now we know who was in charge of the mics
at the el’debates on Sunday.
Same people in charge od Congress
Martha McCallum is giving credibility to the MoveOn ad.
Brilliant.
lol pb, no brainer. some moron now having donuts is scrambling.
They broke the General mike on purpose!!! another freaken disturbance!!!!
Is that “Ike” Skelton or “Red” Skelton?
Kinda looks like the later to me.
ok … if they “knew” these people were going to be disruptive … why did they let them and their “signs” in to begin with … DUH????
Letme guess, the audio guy’s name is Hugo Chavez!!!!!!!!!!
Broken microphone = Democrat dirty tricks, pure and diabolically simple.
Did you see that loser they threw out? How did he get in there in the first place? Oh, nevermind. He’s a lib, he must be heard.
Because much like some congressional Dems stated earlier, they want the little people to do the nutjob, disrespectful antics that they want to do themselves (but are too spineless to do).
Any bets on what political affiliation the removed nutjobs have?
Finally, here we go with the real deal Holyfield.
It is outrageous for Senator Lantos to call Gen. Petraues a liar!!!!! Out freaken outrageous!!!!!
I wonder just how much of the American public is going to be aware of what is going on here. What would the majority of Americans think of a General being treated in this manner? IMO, they would be appalled and totally disgusted with the Democrats. This makes me ill.
#55, I bet the majority of liberal, military-hating Dems (and residents of San Francisco) are cheering the fact that Gen Petraeus is being disrespected.
Boy when you think about what he is reporting, there are some American and Iraqi troops, really busting their humps.
PB they arent even listening their minds are rotted out and already been made up.
Iran needs to feel some significant pain NOW
aj, you’re right…they will not listen.
They need to ban everyone except the press and official parties from these proceedings. These interruptions are unacceptable.
PB … they won’t have to listen because the MSM will never present it to them in the first place …
A syringe full of happy juice would work on the idiots.
To watch the Fox News online video feed of the testimony, try the link below. Whn clicked on Windows Media Player should pop up and play the the 282Kbps video stream. Or copy and paste URL text beneath the link into the Meida Player “open URL” option.
Video Stream
http://foxnews-foxstream.wm.llnwd.net/foxnews_foxstream
lol, or one of the Bears magic milkshakes.:)
That is what saddens, angers and frustrates me. If American citizens, by large, can’t be bothered to pay attention to and make informed decisions regarding the events which dictate the future success or failure of our country, we are in deep trouble.
Link to slides used by the General in pdf format, from politico.com -
PDF slides
Another PDF of testimony -
Testimony
Why can’t the public be banned from these proceedings?!
aj- some “hair of the bear” would leave their innnards in severe disrepair.
gotta be in shape inside to survive a ride on the Magic Bear lol
not for anybody who is, let’s say, full of it
God Bless America! Censure these Congressional Idiots…especially Diane “Pork” Feinstein.
Yup, especially since it’s not an “interactive” thing.
pb … I suspect that many are not more informed because they grew up with only the alphabet networks and newspapers as their “news” source … they have not ever felt they had reason to doubt and re-examine that “trust” in what they hear from those sources … as a result they do not explore and seek the “rest of the story” to get full answers as many of us here do …
Those idiots were not the public. they were Code Pink morons. How the hell do you let into an official proceeding these moronic idiots wearing pink Burger King looking crowns on their heads? At least Ike said from now on disruptors would be prosecuted. Why he didn’t say that at the top of the hearing is beyond me, other than Democrats wanted those pathetic pukes to disrupt the hearing, and then have plausible deniability when they are removed. These are the people the Democrats are conference calling with almost everyday. Disgraceful.
In the old days the good humor boys would have picked up those code stinkers and fast tracked em to bellvue in straight jackets..
Tony Snow is on Rush right now, and he was laughing at the Code Pink idiots. they are a pathetic joke, and the only people who take them seriously are themselves.
Brian72
Didn’t you get the memo? … Code Pink elected the Dems and now “own them” and can kick them out if they don’t tow the line they want …
Tow this.
I nominate Tom Lantos for crapweasel membership.
what’s that you’re towing aj? … peeps bag of pesos? … lol
The Dems look bored … surprise … and Lantos looks like he’s going to fall off his chair asleep …
Looks like the only people “kicked out” are the morons with stupid cardboard pink hats. What a bunch of a$$hat ninnies.
I can’t get over how stupid they are. People around the world are seeing these whining nags, and thinking “that’s America”. Makes me very angry. GRRRRRRRRR!!
Code Fink is a joke.
calamityville
Lantos crapweasel application was rejected … too much crap and not enough weasel …
Well thank God the didn’t show their saggy wears this time. ew.
The usual psycho suspects emerge:
“Cindy Sheehan arrested at Petraeus hearing
By Klaus Marre
September 10, 2007
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan was arrested Monday in or near the hearing room where General David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker are testifying on the situation in Iraq, according to the U.S. Capitol Police.
Four anti-war protesters were arrested for disorderly conduct. One of them, who was not named, is being taken to George Washington Hospital “due to complaint of injury” is also charged with assault on a police officer.
According to the information from the Capitol Police, Sheehan and the other three were shouting in a hallway.”
(thehill.com)
The Dems know this…they are chuckling inside. No low is too low if it means making Bush look bad, even if it means allowing Pinkos into these proceedings.
This isn’t an Anne Coulter speech or a college commencement…this is a congressional hearing about the way ahead for our nation!
IMI, ban these idiots from further proceedings. They are not difficult to identify, we just need to engage in some textile profiling.
Good for Rush! He just said “If you aren’t a military family, you have no business being war-weary.” Today I swear 75% of U.S. citizens (and 100% of the Democrats) don’t know and don’t care what is at stake. Most of their lives are not interrupted or inconvenienced on a daily basis. I want a Republican presidential hopeful who will promise to get us out of the U.N. One nation – one vote – wake up!
Code Pink was a clown show,3 stooges,and fools.They just dont get it when they holler no one can understand what they say.Ive got almost 30 years in and 3 wars,the general is one of our finest soldiers ever.
It sounded like they were shouting “Where’s my Meds” to me.
michael #88…
I had 3 years in and 25 in law enforecement and I agree the General is a great man and a great leader.
Code Pink should be banned from all congressional hearings.
Rush is now replaying the soundbites from the Code Pink spectacle of stupidity. I did not realise that Cindy, the peacemom herself was present. I hope she goes to jail, and that stupid fool Medea Benjamin goes with her. They have no respect for our country acting like this. Cindy has taken a giant poop on the memory of her son, who died a U.S. Marine trying to save lives, and kill the enemy. What would Casey have to say about the disgraceful cartoonish joke his mother has created of herself, all the while cynically trashing what Casey chose to risk his life to protect?
Not to mention that these unhappy hags descended on Walter Reed Army Hospital to use our wounded warriors as props for the same anti-American crap they pulled in that hearing just now. That should be a crime. They disgust me, each and every one.
I should kick back and read some of your comments, my blood pressure is rising by the second, and I don’t want to get banned:)
with these idiots being continually allowed into the halls of congress to fill the gallery at these hearings and such the question is never whether they will cause a disruption the question is when
Michael,
No at least the 3 Stooges had some socially redeeming value in that they were actually funny and harmless, these people are just pathetic. Please don’t insult the 3 Stooges by comparing them to these people.
You and me both.