Link: Napolitano says she does not support immediate Iraq pullout.
And she’s simply wrong, but I think I understand why she’s taken this position. She may not ready to oppose the war, over which she has no actual political control, because she judges the costs of doing so (which could be considerable) to not be worth the potential benefit (her opposition would have little effect on the policy).
From a career standpoint, she’s probably doing the right thing by remaining neutral. Her strongest political influence is in her leadership in a Republican-controlled state, in which she has to maintain constructive relationships with the GOP state house, and her role in the National Governors Association, where she has to work constructively with Republican Governors on a number of important issues. To alienate her colleagues, and give her enemies ammunition by taking an empty political position would be foolish. Taking such a position could also have a long-term impact on her political career – if she were to run for Senate, for instance, or be nominated the Supreme Court, such a position could harm her.
None of these are sufficient reasons to remain non-committal about the waste (yes, I am specifically choosing this word) of the lives of our soldiers, but I do understand her choice, and I view the Governor’s comments in that context. The war isn’t something she chose, or had any say in, but she’s not going to let it stop her from achieving what it is possible for her to achieve with her career.
Given that the great majority of Congress members of her party still do not support an immediate pull-out, hoping to avoid any political cost or responsibility for the utter failure of Bush’s Iraq misadventure, it is not unusual or especially note-worthy that a moderate Governor of a moderately Republican state has taken the safe, moderate position. But the Governor’s position most certainly does not in any way demonstrate that our continued occupation of Iraq is a wise or moral policy.
The 80% of rank and file Democrats who do support immediate withdrawal have our work cut out for us to show these ‘leaders’ that advocating withdrawal is safe. Or that failing to do so is manifestly less safe. Only then will our leaders take the difficult decision to get out ahead of this issue, rather than leading from safely within the herd.
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Nappy is just another wishy-washy politician. I lost respect for her long ago.
Leonard,
I feel as bad as you do about Janet Napolitano, but asking that she return to her democratic roots and values is a waste of time. She is, after all, a politician with higher aspirations and this isn’t going to be the last time she disappoints progressives. It’s very rare that someone gets to where she wants to go without going to the crossroads and selling his/her soul to the devil.
Progressives need to focus on the populist movement and the politicians will, at some point, get in line. And that, my friend, is a slow train coming but there is absolutely no other choice.
An Open Letter To Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano
Well our governor is back in Arizona. The same day she arrived the “Fair and Balanced” newspaper (wink ;), (wink ;), called the Arizona Republic reported the new worshippers of George Bush the King (the old Arizona Republican party,now more accurately known as the Arizonan Tory party) lectured the governor not to “cut and run” from Iraq. This was a rather illogical statement to come from these “Tories” who now run the Republican party since our governor Napolitano stated that she (front page of Arizona Republic earlier this week, story by Matthew Benson)would not support a troop withdrawal from Iraq at this time and that progress was being made there.
Now, we need to look at governor Napolitano’s political position: On the Progressive side of the political spectrum she is now facing the wrath of many in and outside of the Democratic party who are furious at her right-wing Neo-Conic position. Please do not consider her position as anything more than a political one because she is not taking a moral position on Iraq or a “personal heart felt” position if you will. And, the next question would be who in the hell am I or anybody to know if Arizona governor Napolitano is taking a political or moral position on Iraq?
I respond that we really don’t want to know because if our governor or (any political leader for that matter) presently and truly feels that our American soldiers should die for a corrupt and theocratic government whose constitution abdicates to the law of Sharia and therefore takes its law from its holy religioius book and whose puppet government (really a Bush -Cheney-Halliburton subsidary) is currently selling off its sovereign interests to Exxon and other International American Oil Companies (which is also against international law) then, if this is the case she and those leaders have succumbed to the political philosophy of Machivelli himself who set forth that the ends could justify the means.
The governor like many of the Republican type democrats and outright political selouts like Senator Lieberman who constantly try to increase their voter base by appeasing and feeding the murderous lie we call the Illegal Occupation of Iraq should instead heed the advice of most experienced runners: When attacked by vicious dogs one should only attempt to get away if there is a fence, tree or some other way of escape but, if the runner has no way to escape, the worst thing that runner could do would be to run away from the vicious dogs because he or she would be horribly devoured as they tried to flee. No, an experienced runner knows that when attacked by vicious dogs (the New Neo-Con Tory party in this case) there is only one real choice and that is to stand and fight for the alternative of being devoured is not an alternative.
Governor Napolitano and her right-wing democratic advisors need to understand that the “red meat” she is throwing to these vicious Neo-Con Tory dogs is at the expense not only of the progressives in this party but more importantly at the expense of the American people who are losing their most priceless resource: American soldiers lives.
Governor Napolitano’s advisors should be telling her these basic facts: 1.) The new Tory Neo-Con party (formerly the Republican Eisenhower party)of Arizona has one hope that they are using to salvage their rapidly decomposing party: Hate. At present racial tensions are easily provoked between the hispanic and anglo populations of Arizona. This new Tory party of Arizona know that they can create a divide between groups of people not based upon the fact that they are undocumented but due to the fact that they speak a different language (Spanish) and sometimes have different colored skin. Remember this policy worked well with Serbian Nationalist leaders who got their Christian population to hate their Muslim population and eventually committ genocide.
The governor’s advisors could then tell her that a solution to the first evil strategy of the new “Tory” party located in Arizona and throughout the U.S.A. would be to let the people of Arizona know that she is going to strongly push for state and federal legislation that will come up with an answer to this immigration problem: a.) by pushing a new comprehensive plan backed by very strong border protection staffed by the missing personel (Arizona Army National Guard soldiers) who are now being neglected and killed in Iraq. b.) By letting the people of Arizona know that she is going to stand up to the incorporated business interests of Arizona and give them fair warning that she will in the near future in conjunction with a massive and comprehensive immigration plan force them to no longer hire undocumented workers.
2.) Governor Napolitano’s right wing advisors should tell her that the new “Tory” party here in Arizona (formerly the Grand Republican party of Eisenhower)is stupidly pushing for support of the murderous illegal Occupation of Iraq with the blood of our American soldiers). This last stance by the Tories in Arizona should be swiftly faced down by Governor Napolitano. a.) Rather than coming out with pro-right-wing statements such as: she will not support withdrawal of American soldiers from Iraq : She should be backing our party at the national level for highly-supported troop withdrawal. This last point is especially important because she is actually undercutting our Democratic national legislation by her open Lieberman-like support of the Illegal Occupation of Iraq she carries great influence with her views and her opinions as she surely knows being that she is also the chairman of the governor’s association.
It is no accident, that there is talk of governor Napolitano possibly thinking of running for the U.S. Senate in 2010 to take John McCain’s seat. Hmmm…, Now there’s a coincidence governor Napolitano and Bloody John McCain both seem to hold the same views on the Iraq war. Hmmm…, on one of Governor Napolitano’s commissions (the commission for Movies and Televisions) there is also an appointment of an individual she has made: Cindy McCain. Hmmm… I wonder, have deals been made at the highest levels between the governor and Republican cronies, quid pro quo, if you will? For example: Johnny, I’ll support you for president and and throw in the support of my other elite business friends by not attacking you on Iraq but it sure would would be nice if you could do the same for me when I decide to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010 when you vacate your seat or I run for president.
Thanks Johnny.
Well, governor Napolitano I and many others are asking you to now come back to your democratic roots and values and stand against this murderous occupation of Iraq. I personally, will hold no grudges because I think you are good governor in many ways and it would be a great loss to all of us if you follow Senator Lierberman’s path or Bloody Senator John McCains Flip Flopping.
Leonard Clark (the Damn Liberal)
Persian Gulf/Iraq War III Vet
and
Chair of the Committee to Recall John McCain contact number 623-423-6300 therealmccain.com unreportednews.net
contact email: leonardclark385@hotmail.com
Mike;
I have seen many people in my 62 years on this earth from all walks of life; and dealt with life and death situations owning an Ambulance Company,to Funeral Homes,to Banks and Savings and Loans to Dry Cleaners, to Jewerly Stores and yes even a tripple AAA baseball team; and have known most every Lawyer in Arizona and Tucson and got many off to a good start as a member of The Funeral Homes Board of Directors, names you only read about that I will not go into here, but are very prominent today and in the history of Tucson and Arizona politics and representing The Rule of Law all the way to Judgeships and The United States Supreme Court, and you make threats on this blog to “watch my ass”?
Mike;
You know it is never my intention to Dictate only to mediate.
Does everyone in the Pima County Democratic Party agree with comments you have made(Posting your web-site on the Pima County Democratic Party web-site callendar?)
The Democratic Party I grew up with always had differing view points and we NEVER KICKED ANYONE OUT!
Unlike some, I realize that wishes are not reality. I would like nothing so much as for our troops to come home safe and healthy, keeping them in Iraq does not redeem those who have already been lost or wounded, only wastes and destroys more lives.
I don’t want America to lose the war, I recognize that we cannot win it. Our own generals admit that a military solution to Iraq is not now possible. The last minute piling of a surge is just the hail-mary pass of a President desperate to deny the reality that the military has already acknowledged.
What is still possible? To leave as quickly and responsibly as we can. I reject the idea that Iraq is more likely to become a failed state without an occupying army, and so do Iraqis. They believe their lives will be better without American troops.
Do I want to capitulate to terrorism? Of course not. I want to fight it effectively, and that will not happen with our armed forces mired in a civil war. Iraq is NOT, and NEVER HAS BEEN the “central front of the war on terror” as Bush claims. It has always been a dirty, stupid game of liars’ poker that we were bound to lose. I utterly reject this Administration’s view of America’s national interest. They are fundamentally destroying our national interest and undermining our national security with this war.
I have to say, Dwight, that you are pissing me off with your ad hominem attacks on me. Disagree with me if you will, but I won’t put up with this sort of shabby McCarthyite bullshit on my own blog. You are guest in MY house. You speak on this blog by MY sufferance. Watch your ass, or the door WILL hit it on the way out.
Leonard Clark;
Please take a look to Germany before World War II and The PROGRESSIVES IN NAZI GERMANY and what they did to the movement; under there leader Adolf Hitler who wrote a book about what he was about to do; as Joe Kennedy told FDR the day before he INVADED EUROPE “HITLER WAS NO THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES OR EUROPE!” WE GOT IT WRONG THEN AND LOW AND BEHOLD WE MAY HAVE GOT THIS ONE WRONG BEFORE THEY HAD A CHANCE TO GET IT RIGHT!!!!!!!!
Leonard Clark;
The Progressives of The Democratic Party?
Illegal Occupation of Iraq?; when we are in Iraq NOT only because of a Congressional vote, but because of a majority VOTE BY THE UNITED NATIONS ALSO!?
Everyone in the World including Saddam Hussien thought he had Weapons of Mass Destruction,(INCLUDING JOE WILSON and VALERE PLAME)because he was actively seeking them as they found hundreds of TONS of yellowcake IN IRAQ!
I agree with you that there is a DISCONNECT between the American Public in General and the War BECAUSE WE HAVE NO DRAFT! I was Drafted in 1967 into The Army ; I know what it feels like to be drafted and what it means to family members. I feel that the Draft SHOULD be re-instated as Rep. Charlie Wrangle states and for the reasons he states. The MILITARY IS NOW A DISFUNTIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY LIKE F.E.M.A. and blame is being passed around like some kind of H.M.O.!
Putting the Military back on the shoulders of the PUBLIC, RICH OR POOR, makes decisions like WAR more difficult in the beginning and gives the Military access to getting the job done instead of “LETTING THE ENGINE IDELING” with an Army,Navy and Marine Corps. that if given the GREEN LIGHT could END THE WAR IN IRAQ IN A MATTER OF DAYS!
Might I ask if The PROGRESSIVES are for SECURING THE BORDERS OF THE UNITED STATES in which they live?
azw88;
To bring your question full circle of my family mambers who lead the charge; my Grandfather Roland R. Leister then served with General John J. Pershing in The American Expeditionary Forces in FRANCE when President Wilson pulled Pershing off The Mexican Boder to lead the Armies in World War I in 1917-18. On my web-site is the G.H.Q. letter signed by General Pershing to Roland R. Leister; later my Grandfather met my brother-in-law and told him of the many stories he encountered in France;including giving a candy bar to a French Citizen who he later met in the United States 50 years later who thanked him and recognized him from a meeting of soldiers in Washington remembering World War I.
I am not a real fan of this position. I do not support the surge and I do not support this manufactured war that costs us Billions and more importantly the lives, arms and legs of the young men and women serving over there.
I am concerned too about what a pullout will mean for the region and it would indeed highlight to the world just how much of a mess we have made. But I just can’t see this being worth it and I don’t see the government that Bush put into place having any tie to political, social, and economic culture of the Shia and Sunni factions.
This is going to have to be a problem the world addresses. The more and more men and women who die, just makes this war less and less palatable to me. The truth is that we cannot “win” this war without hundreds of thousand more troops that America will not give up. The fact that our troops have to do so many rotations over there is sickening.
I often think that the only thing that would get the attention of this nation to this problem would be a draft. Without it, the men and women of our armed forces and their families are left to shoulder the burden.
I can see why they are tired of us.
Today, in the Arizona Republic our governor, Janet Napolitano was quoted as saying that she’s not ready to advocate for troop withdrawal. It was on the front page of the Arizona Republic newspaper (3-8-07). She also made statements like: there is progress in Iraq and our troops are getting things done.
I want to know why she as political leader for the Democratic party of Arizona is finally making a public statement on Iraq when for many months and years we (the citizens of this state and country) have been dreaming of the day that she would take a stand against the illegal occupation of Iraq and that we would see her with us standing together arm and arm in front of Bloody John McCain’s office or Jon Hyl Kyl’s office protesting as right wing wackos and monarchists shouted profanities at us and tried to hit us with their cars.
On top of it all, the members of the state Democratic party of Arizona voted in 2005 for our troops to withdrawal from Iraq, now it can be said that this was only a symbolic resolution on the behalf of the Democratic party of Arizona but one thing this official resolution wasn’t: some internet poll or unofficial survey. This was an official resolution for a troop withdrawal. Janet Napolitano is the leader of our party in Arizona, so these direct quotations are in effect in direct contradiction to what the membership of this party said in 2005: Withdraw our troops from Iraq. The elites seem to have gone along with this resolution as type of patronization of the progressives in this party.
Furthermore, it will be said that our governor Janet Napolitano was not the only one to be invited to Iraq by Secretary of Defense Gates but, I have seen in the press where she met behind closed doors with officials of the Bush administration supposedly just to discuss solutions for fighting fires in Arizona. But, Janet’s coddling up to right wingers in Bush’s administration represents the danger we all face when we eventually reach the highest levels of power in politics: that we will associate so much with our ideological opponents that we start to become like them.
These public statements by the governor are a symbolic slap in the face to those in this party (the Democratic party of Arizona) and those independents and progressives who know that George Bush is an evil and sick tyrant. Why else, after all of our entreaties to her to stand with us would her first major public statements not be against the illegal occupation of Iraq but instead for it. she made statements to our reporters such as: She is not yet ready for a troop withdrawal from Iraq? When I recieved the email from Mr. Wade today from the Arizona Democratic Party of Arizona that governor Napolitano visited Iraq, the statements that our governor made regarding her non-support for an American troop withdrawal that she was quoted as making on the front page of the Arizona Republic today were not included. This is not appreciated. We progressives in this party are not children to be patronized or laughed at. Just like the way Bush’s people laughed at the fundamentalist in his party, whose support he needed (behind their backs and behind closed doors) as being ignorant and simple minded.
For those of you who say we are being unfair to our Arizona governor Janet Napolitano and that she is being quoted out of context, we say that she is one of the most politically savvy and uncanny politicians and that she does not make “loose statements”. For those of us who have watched her rise to power in Arizona, we have known of her over powering ambition to always put the advancement of her political career as her top priority.
One must realize that she is a product of the Hillary group and that she was schooled in their methods (rightly or wrongly) when she was sent out here to Arizona years ago by President Clinton when he came to power . It is no accident that she eerily similar to Hillary in her political strategies and her public stances on the Illegal Occupation of Iraq.
But you know what? When many of us know human beings are actually being murdered (American soldiers and citiizens of the world) for a lie (the Occupation of Iraq) we have to sacrifice if necessary our political careers and save lives and not leastly save this Republic from Fascism. Political careers must come second. But, I am afraid that this political sacrifice is to much to ask the governor and the elites in this party who hold stances on the Occupation similar to hers. Why not triangulate and use the blood of American soldiers (like John McCain is doing) to win the next election?
Why else would our governor make such grievous statements and symbolically rub the progressives wounds in salt by not just staying silent but incredibly now making statements that support more killing of American soldiers and civilians in Iraq? Is the Senate position now held by John McCain now that important. This may seem naive of me but why does Machivelli’s ghost now seem to run the governor’s mind and the minds of other elites in this party?
We activist have had to sacrifice everything, including our political chances in this party because at the end of the day and at the end of our of lives we know that we stood for Right with my fellow brother and sister progressive activist to bring home our American soldiers and fight for the survival of this Republic. What a shallow life to always lust for political power at the cost of human lives.
I ask the governor of this state (Arizona) to either retract her statement about not standing for an American troop withdrawal from Iraq or that she states that she is for an American troop withdrawal in the very near future from Iraq.
Since we know that Napolitano is a political calculator who carefully takes no chances as to not be seen as standing with the progressives who advocate for getting our troops out of Iraq, we can also calculate that her advisors have told her that the progressives in this party do not hold much power in the Democratic party of Arizona (as they believe was demonstrated by the party election last January of a state chair that progressives fought against). But, the governor should be careful because progressives in this party hold more power and influence than she probably believes. If it follows that she and advisors believe that we progressives in this party do not hold much power, she and they probably believe that if we left the party it would cause no harm to their centrist republican view of the Democratic party.
In fact, it could shrewdly be concieved that if we progressives were pushed out of the party (purged) , the DNC theme of the party would take complete control of the Democratic party in Arizona . To this, I state to you my fellow activists DO NOT let them push us out of the party for that is exactly what they want, for then like the rest of the country they could consolidate and incorporate their DNC philosophy over the Democratic party of Arizona.
I am deeply dissappointed and disheartened because although we could not get the governor to come out and openly protest or publicly stand against the continued killing of our American soldiers I never expected our governor Napolitano to come out so arrogantly and brazenly advocate for the continued presence of American troops in Iraq by stating that she doesn’t believe they should be withdrawn yet, as she was quoted in the Arizona Republic today.
I hope the governor and other elites in this party prove me wrong and come out tommorrow publicly by stating openly that they are against the Iraq Occupation and therefore put their petty political ambitions second and the lives of our Americans soldiers first. We could expect this from Republicans and Monarchist but not those elites who run the Democratic party. I apoligize to all of those elites in the Democratic party who have come out publicly against the occupation of Iraq, There are such leaders as Mr. Alfredo Guiterrez who stand for what is right and join in our protest even to the point of getting arrested for non-violent civil disobedience.
It is very easy now for well known politicians to go to the Martin Luther King Celebrations that are held every January and smile for the cameras but would they have stood arm in arm wit Dr. King when he was also a political outcast from the elite of this nation? We need the leadership of men like Dr. King who was savagely attacked and finally murdered for his courageous stand for what was right.
So now I ask: Governor Napolitano are you for or against the Illegal Occupation of Iraq? I have to ask this question because for all intents and purposes today you took a stand for the Illegal Occupation of Iraq and therefore indirect support of that murderous king and tyrant George Bush. So this is not an unfair question to ask you because we activist put our lives and careers on the line all the time by taking public stances against the Iraq War and for others to state that since you hold an elite position in the Democratic party as precluding you from taking a stance for or against the Iraq War therefore is no excuse. Our fellow Americans are dying for a lie! Please do not take the flip flopping stance of John McCain or the Fascist stance of Jon Kyl.
Where are you govenor? We need your support not your opposition.
Leonard Clark Persian Gulf/ Iraq War III Vet
Chair of the John McCain Recall Committee
3-8-07
Click here to view more articles by leonardclark
Mike;
Please explain to me and the bloggers how taking a stand to defend America and The Troops has any effect on a Supreme Court Nomination?
The question IS dores she support Roe V Wade or its overturn NOT the War in Iraq!
This IS where the Democratic Party is taking the WRONG path. The public in 2008 will long be past the War in Iraq as a positive or a negative; Bush is gone from the “Decision Making” so why elect a Democrat verses Republican when BOTH are supporting continuing the effort to protect The Western World from Jihad and Radical Islamic terrorists who are planning all kinds of things to inflict harm on us and kill us?!
Mike I can go a step futher and say Hillary would have NO problem with Gov. Bill Richardson as Secretary of State either!
Mike;
As for Janet making decisions that would influence the future President Of The United States Hillary Clinton she does NOT have to prove anything to either Bill or Hillary as Bill appointed Janet as Arizina U.S. Attorney under JANET Reno; Iam very sure Hillary would have NO problem with another JANET as Attorney General of The United States!
azw88;
For your information Janet and I do talk on occation and she does listen to what I have to say as I listen to what she has to say, one notable reversal in her stand was “Putting The National Guard On The Border,” which I called for in early 2004 and she acted upon in Feb. of 2005.
There should be NO question that she would be strong on National Defense here at home and Abroad.
As for any family members leading the charge in the 1930’s the last Great Family member who “LEAD THE CHARGE ” was my brother-in-laws Grandfather Commander-In-Chief and Generals of The Army General John J. Pershing who was charged by President Wilson to Stop the INVASION by Pancho Villa with Tanks, Aircraft and 80,000 Georgia National Guard Troops in 1916. Translate that into todays numbers on the Border and you have a MILLION MAN ARMY fighting Illegal Mexican Nationals who INVADED The United States Killing everyone in Columbus, New Mexico and leveling the Town.
Iam very sure Mike and his friends would have called for an early withdrawl and surrender of U.S.Forces as they SPIT on the defenders of The Alamo and the Battle Cry “NEVER FORGET THE ALAMO!”
I can hardly call what Janet did as Mike calls it ” NEUTRAL” Stand on removing Coalition Troops from a War Zone; that as a result of doing so would reqire the RETURN of the same forces, after a emplosion of everything that is Evil into Iraq from Hell itself!?
Janet did was NOT thinking about herself or any Political end to this war , she is another Democrat who wants The United States and its Allies to Succeed; unlike Mike!
azw88,
I believe that most people who are calling for troop withdrawal realize that it cannot be accomplished in a single day. The end of the occupation begins with words, my friend. Those words should begin with two assurances from the US:
1. The United States does not intend to permanently occupy Iraq and will immediately begin a phased withdrawal of troops.
2. The United States does not intend to control Iraqi oil resources nor does it intend to provide military security for foreign oil corporations that will have interests in Iraq.
Of course, from what has been learned about the leaked Iraqi oil law that just made it through the Cabinet, we know that #2 above is exactly why we are going to stay in Iraq. Either that, or Exxon Mobil and the rest will be hiring private armies.
Any discussion of why we are in Iraq that does not include a discussion of the oil is a pretty meaningless discussion and a waste of time.
Perhaps I’m as bad as right wing wackos. I guess I could say that you are looking at this through the tunnel that Bush/Cheney/Fox News wants you to look through.
You and a lot of other people.
A blanket pull out is not a reasonable plan. A well planned, phased pull out makes more sense politically and militarily.
Those that would drop a candidate over this one issue are no better than the right wing wackos that vote soley on the abortion issue.
OK, Dwight, I think that this is your cue to rant on about how your second cousin once removed served as a colonel in the AZ national guard (perhaps he even led the ‘attack’ on the California National guard in the 1930’s)
Janet drank the Kool-Aid and lost my respect, and my vote. She not only opposes the pullout, she supports the surge. May she burn in hell for putting her career ahead of what is right. And she is wrong. The vast majority of voters want US out of Iraq.
Janet Napolitano has not endeared herself to those of us who want an end to the US occupation of Iraq whether or not her position is really about what suits her own political ambitions. It is very possible that some Democratic politicians may find themselves less popular in 2008 because they tried too hard to find some kind of neutral position that would not cost them an election. This kind of fear has no place in this war, which is essentially about life and death for thousands of people. I hope that at least some of the Democratic politicians who fail to enthusiastically support and enact the will of the American people lose their elections.