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You are here: Home / Politics / The Truth Hurts

The Truth Hurts

by John Cole|  January 31, 20063:11 pm| 45 Comments

This post is in: Politics, Democratic Stupidity

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Dana Milbank must want some more abuse from the left flank of the blogosphere:

The new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds congressional Democrats in the best position they’ve held in 14 years, besting President Bush and Republican lawmakers on Iraq, the economy, health care, immigration, ethics and more.

All of which can mean only one thing: It is time for the Democrats to eat their own.

Right on cue, liberal activists including Cindy Sheehan and Ramsey Clark gathered yesterday at the Busboys & Poets restaurant and bookshop at 14th and V streets NW for what they billed as a forum on “The Impeachment of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.” But the participants, while charging the administration with “crimes against humanity,” a “war of aggression” and even “the supreme international crime,” inevitably turned their wrath on congressional Democrats, whom they regarded as a bunch of wimps.

Ouch. The patented Democratic circular firing squad, dusted off and ready for 2006. Gabe Rivera’s always awesome Memeorandum has a round-up of responses to the article.

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Reader Interactions

45Comments

  1. 1.

    Steve

    January 31, 2006 at 3:15 pm

    Dana Milbank must want some more abuse from the left flank of the blogosphere.

    John Cole must want some more abuse from the left flank of his commentors…

  2. 2.

    Anderson

    January 31, 2006 at 3:18 pm

    Dems need to be better about Sistah-Souljah’ing these folks, so that they quit being trotted out as paradigmatic “Dems.”

    Anyone who’d have a fit over that was going to vote Nader anyway.

  3. 3.

    John Cole

    January 31, 2006 at 3:20 pm

    But I love you all, Steve.

    Even Paddy.

  4. 4.

    Marcus Wellby

    January 31, 2006 at 3:26 pm

    John, you love Cindy — you LLLLLLLLLLOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEE her!

  5. 5.

    Johno

    January 31, 2006 at 3:27 pm

    What Anderson said. Seriously… there’s a point at which you stop inviting Drunkle Joe to family gatherings because it will only end in tears if you let him get near the keg.

    Drunk uncle Joe being the Dem wingers. And a microphone, in this case, being the keg. Or something.

    It’s a metaphor! Shut up!

  6. 6.

    Krista

    January 31, 2006 at 3:32 pm

    But I love you all, Steve.

    Even Paddy.

    Where the hell did that come from? Are you just in a good mood because someone gave you the mental image of Jessica Alba sitting on your lap?

  7. 7.

    Pooh

    January 31, 2006 at 3:35 pm

    Good point Anderson.

  8. 8.

    Jay C

    January 31, 2006 at 3:51 pm

    Cindy Sheehan AND Ramsay Clark? Jeez, what’s up, here? Twofer sale from the Moonbats-R-Us booking bureau?
    And at a bookstore, no less!!! Wow. Aux armes, citoyens! Vive la Revolution!
    Yawn.

    Sorry, John: wake me when these cranks draw more than a double digit crowd: hell, even if they draw more than a single digit crowd! I realize that righties love to jump up and down pointing at fringe figures like these two clowns, and trying to pretend that their extremist views are somehow part-and-parcel of the Democratic Party’s mainstream (if only because Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi don’t preface each-and-every-one of their prouncements with ritual denunciations of Cindy Sheehan and/or Michael Moore).
    Lemme know when Ramsay Clark gets to be Chair of the DNC’s Platform Committee – then maybe it will be worth getting worked up about.

  9. 9.

    Pooh

    January 31, 2006 at 3:51 pm

    the mental image of Jessica Alba sitting on your lap?

    Damnit Krista, now I’m done for the day…

  10. 10.

    Davebo

    January 31, 2006 at 3:54 pm

    Wow!

    I have to wonder where CNN, MSNBC, and Fox news were yesterday when obviously they should have been at the illustrious Busboys & Poets restaurant and bookshop covering the latest DNC policy meeting.

    Of course a quick google news search finds that the networks aren’t the only ones to miss out on this important policy summit. There was only one other listing.
    Qando.net managed to remark on it as well. Which begs the question, since when is quando.net a news outlet and why are all the wingnuts complaining about google news?

  11. 11.

    Davebo

    January 31, 2006 at 3:57 pm

    I guess it’s a bad time to point out that Cindy Sheehan would kill to get the on air time that Glenn 52% of Americans are TRAITORS Reynolds gets.

  12. 12.

    Krista

    January 31, 2006 at 3:58 pm

    Pooh –

    That’s sad, man. How old are you, 13?

  13. 13.

    Davebo

    January 31, 2006 at 4:11 pm

    Of course all political parties have their crosses to bare.

    Among several, the GOP has folks like Pat Robertson.

    Now, Pat Robertson has never been the political mover and shaker within the GOP like Cindy Sheehan and Ramsey Clark has been within the DNC.

    Sure, he ran for president in the GOP primary, but that doesn’t mean that he’s, ya know, like a Republican or something.

    Which explain why here, or here or even here or here John never felt the need to consider what effects the words of this former GOP presidential candidate might have on his political party’s chances.

    Footnote: More non-assocation can be found here and here and… well you get the drift. It goes on and on.

  14. 14.

    Pooh

    January 31, 2006 at 4:11 pm

    Krista-
    Slightly older. Sometimes I need a happy place, that’s all. (Plus, my neck of the woods is not exactly noted for the, er, ‘talent’ of the female population.)

  15. 15.

    John Cole

    January 31, 2006 at 4:18 pm

    Davebo- I attack robertson at every opportunity.

    You defend Sheehan and Ramsey at every opportunity. Like here.

    Figured out the difference, yet?

  16. 16.

    Davebo

    January 31, 2006 at 4:18 pm

    Plus, my neck of the woods is not exactly noted for the, er, ‘talent’ of the female population.

    Well quit trolling the bait shop dude! Beyond counting minnows, those gals are pretty useless!

  17. 17.

    Davebo

    January 31, 2006 at 4:21 pm

    John,

    Where have I ever defended Sheehan?? Good luck looking for that one dude.

    And yes, you attack Robertson. But that wasn’t my point.

    You never express concern that Robertson’s idiotic quotes and actions may reflect poorly on the GOP.

    Yet you act as if every word Sheehan utters is scripted by Howard Dean.

    She’s nobody. Especially within the DNC.

    Which you can’t say about Robertson.

    Has John Kerry or Hillary Clinton invited Sheehan in to their office to discuss strategy or say, potential Supreme Court appointments?

    Nuff said eh?

  18. 18.

    Davebo

    January 31, 2006 at 4:22 pm

    I went back and re-read John, and I just don’t see how you can claim I was defending Sheehan or anyone else.

    If you see it, please explain it to me.

    But even though you can’t you can still have the cash towards the new laptop.

    ;0)

  19. 19.

    The Disenfranchised Voter

    January 31, 2006 at 4:26 pm

    Last night, my mother mentioned to me that there was an impeach Bush/Cheney rally on. I really wasn’t interested to be honest–the people at these rallies just like to hear each other talk. Later on she told me that Ramsey Clark was speaking there and that I should watch.

    Now, what I’d like to know is this: Does the “bring them all home now” bunch really think getting the guy who is defending Saddam Hussein to speak at an impeachment gathering a good idea?

    I mean honestly folks get a clue.

    In regards to Sheehan, she needs to bow out. She is now attacking Democrats as “pro-war Bush supporters” merely because they don’t favor an immediate withdraw.

    I felt bad for her at first, then I wish she would just go away, now i think she should just shut up.

  20. 20.

    Lines

    January 31, 2006 at 4:29 pm

    I could actually see the Sheehans and Clark’s of the left grouping together and trying to form their own party.

  21. 21.

    Slide

    January 31, 2006 at 5:02 pm

    Davebo hit the nail on the head. Every silly comment by someone on the left is evidence of why Dems are out of touch with “real” americans while every silly comment by someone on the right.. well.. they just speak for themselves and never seem to reflect on the Republican party. Amazing how that works.

    Years of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mike Savage, Ann Coulter, Bill O’reilly et al saying the most reprehensible vile things to a huge audience but damn it if cindy sheehan says something to a dozen people and poof – evidence of Democratic self destrustion. lol.. you gotta love these guys.

  22. 22.

    feral1

    January 31, 2006 at 5:06 pm

    Dude,

    You need to start drinking wine again. Citing a talk by Sheehan and Clark at a bookstore no one has ever heard of as a “Democratic circular firing squad” is a reach of epic proportions. I want some of whatever you and Milbank have been smoking.

  23. 23.

    Wickedpinto

    January 31, 2006 at 5:10 pm

    I’m not a fan of a LOT of things that the republicans support. I’m outright hostile to a lot of the things that the Democrats are supporting. I don’t think the dem’s are as leftist as they depict themselves, but that is where they are going.

    Dem’s? be a second party, don’t be a lightning rod for CRAZY PROTEST GROUPS!!! Be a second FRIGGEN party!

  24. 24.

    Mike

    January 31, 2006 at 5:12 pm

    I had no problem with Sheehan’s initial push at the ranch – hell, I supported it. But her most recent behaviour serves only to help justify those who attacked her in the basest ways then, and leaves me without much of a defensive leg to stand on.

    Cindy, your beef is with the President and the policies that led to your son’s death. When you join with a tinpot South American megalomaniac overseas to take potshots at him, you only serve to crush your credibility among your supporters – even those among us who agree with the basics of your protest.

  25. 25.

    Kimmitt

    January 31, 2006 at 5:13 pm

    Shorter Wickedpinto: Dems should be Republicans, with less corruption.

  26. 26.

    yet another jeff

    January 31, 2006 at 5:14 pm

    War of Aggression? Is there another kind?

  27. 27.

    Richard Bottoms

    January 31, 2006 at 5:15 pm

    Has John Kerry or Hillary Clinton invited Sheehan in to their office to discuss strategy or say, potential Supreme Court appointments?

    \

    Word.

    Cindy also doens’t have 5 million idiot, but activist viewers sending hr millions each week.

    There just isn’t any comparison between Robertson, who gets his calls returned from Karl Rove, and Cindy who is just a mother insane with grief.

  28. 28.

    yet another jeff

    January 31, 2006 at 5:17 pm

    Mike, I agree. I think when grief starts making you do and say embarrassing things, it’s time to seek therapy, not a new soapbox.

  29. 29.

    Davebo

    January 31, 2006 at 5:45 pm

    Look, I know few people who love Caracus more than I do (not to mention Margarita Island) but I certainly wouldn’t accept a trip to Venezuela from Chavez to be filmed with him calling our president an idiot (even though he is).

    But that’s beside the point. The point is, if I did, no one would give a shit. For the same reason no one gave a shit when Cindy did it. Remember all that coverage her trip got on the nightly news? No? Well it’s because she didn’t get any freakin coverage on the nightly news.

    She would get almost zero coverage were it not for John’s tireless efforts.

    But what I want to know John is why are you defending Pat Robertson? And why are you defending Bush defending Pat Robertson?

    What’s that? You say you aren’t defending Pat Robertson? Well FUCK DUDE! I wasn’t defending Cindy either.

    John Cole must buy a heck of a lot of Windex.

  30. 30.

    Paddy O'Shea

    January 31, 2006 at 6:10 pm

    Yoda: “Obsessed with Cindy John is.”

    John: Nobody gives a shit about either Ramsey Clark or Cindy Sheehan. Even Ralph Nader has more credibility in the Democratic Party.

    Think of their rightwing equivalents – G Gordon Liddy, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Rick Moran.

    Move beyond this. Be free.

  31. 31.

    Paddy O'Shea

    January 31, 2006 at 6:10 pm

    And for God sake, stop citing polls!

  32. 32.

    Steve

    January 31, 2006 at 6:34 pm

    Did Paddy just imply Jerry Falwell has no significance to the Republican Party? The guy gets consulted on Supreme Court nominations!

    See, this is what happens when your party doesn’t mail everyone the talking points for the day. The message gets all muddled.

  33. 33.

    Paddy O'Shea

    January 31, 2006 at 6:36 pm

    Use the force, Steve.

  34. 34.

    The Disenfranchised Voter

    January 31, 2006 at 6:45 pm

    War of Aggression? Is there another kind?

    Yes. They are called defensive wars. See the US’s involvement in WWII for example.

  35. 35.

    DougJ

    January 31, 2006 at 7:00 pm

    Let’s say that in lieu of hitting the tip jar, we help John hit his own tip jar a little more often by buying him the “Women of Camp Casey” calendar.

  36. 36.

    yet another jeff

    January 31, 2006 at 7:00 pm

    TDV…*sigh*

  37. 37.

    BadTux

    January 31, 2006 at 7:07 pm

    “I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat.” — Will Rogers

  38. 38.

    The Other Steve

    January 31, 2006 at 7:50 pm

    Pat Robertson ran me out of the Republican party.

    I was there in Iowa in 1988, and was scared to hell when he came in 2nd.

  39. 39.

    The Disenfranchised Voter

    January 31, 2006 at 8:53 pm

    I’m sorry YAJ but wars of aggression only applies to offensive wars–see Iraq II. Entering a war after being attacked is not a war of aggression–it is a defensive war.

  40. 40.

    ZTN

    January 31, 2006 at 10:33 pm

    STRAW MAN STRAW MAN STRAW MAN.

    Sheehan, in all fairness to anyone anywhere Left of Center, hardly represents Dems of almost any stripe.

    Using Sheehan as an excuse to broad brush the Left Wing of the Democratic Party is like using people who bomb abortion clinics and whacks like Rev. Phelps out in Kansas to broad brush critique the Right Wing of the Republican Party. It’s cheap and unfair.

    I felt for her when she camped out at the Bush Ranch but now I find her to be an annoying attention getter pandering to a thinner and thinner group of people.

  41. 41.

    Harley

    January 31, 2006 at 10:57 pm

    Circular Firing Squad? C’mon, John. Two people can’t make a circle. And suggesting that the Dem’s fortunes are tied to Sheehan and Clark is absurd. If Dana deserves criticism, it’s for lazy thinking, nothing more or less.

  42. 42.

    coolcajun

    January 31, 2006 at 11:44 pm

    There has always been a double standard of sorts with which repub pundits can speak madness without any outrage, yet when an outspoken critic of the administration speaks ill of them then he/she gets taken through the woodshed. This administration has set records in that category.

    (aside)
    I don’t trust polls at all. Most of the networks don’t even show the sample size i.e. how many people they polled.

  43. 43.

    HH

    February 1, 2006 at 12:05 am

    Last week it was a full-throated defense of Michael Moore against the horrifying attacks from right-wing Bush-loving zealot Chris Matthews, this week, it’s time for Sheehan to get some lefty love, mere hours after “get off the Sheehan obsession, Cole” was uttered for the ten millionth time. These lefties really know how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

  44. 44.

    HH

    February 1, 2006 at 12:11 am

    Er, which Republican invited Pat Robertson to the SOTU this year?

  45. 45.

    Steve

    February 1, 2006 at 1:46 am

    New rule, no matter whether the White House calls you regarding Supreme Court nominations or not, if they’re not happy to be seen with you on TV it’s like they have nothing to do with you!

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