Ads Don't Kill People, Wars Do

Everywhere I go on this campaign -- from Iowa to New Mexico -- I hear people asking when is this war going to end and when will we get all of our troops out of Iraq? Everyone, myself included, is tired of waiting for this war to end and tired of feeling let down by the people we elected.

The message I hear on the road seems pretty clear to me, but apparently the people in Congress aren't getting it. I know legislating is hard work -- I spent 15 years in Congress -- but I believe that when the people have given you a mandate, and soldiers are dying, it is your solemn duty to get the job done no matter what it takes.

Two days ago the Senate had a chance to help get more of our soldiers home for longer periods of time -- but the measure failed. Yesterday they had a chance to set a timeline to start withdrawing troops -- but that failed too. And today, another measure that would've required a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq failed. Three chances to make a difference, lost. But instead of continuing to push on the most important issue facing our country right now, yesterday Congress spent their time debating and condemning a newspaper ad by an anti-war group.

Let's get some perspective here -- ads don't kill people -- wars kill people. And it is long past time to end this war.

From my many years of diplomatic negotiations I have learned that persistence is key to wearing down the most recalcitrant opponents. So I will be persistent -- and I hope you all will too. If we don't get this done now, we may not have a chance again until a Democrat is in the White House in 2009. That is too long to wait.

And while I firmly believe a Democrat will win in November 2008, I also know that some of the other candidates don't share my clear vision for ending the war.

I have been asking them -- how many troops will you leave behind?

My answer is zero.

Their answers are starting to remind me of the same rhetoric we hearing from DC, a little too much hemming, a little too many "we'll see's."

Every day Congress fails to end this war is another day Congress fails to do what we elected them to do. Americans have lost patience with Congress and with the leaders they elected to end the war. But you know what? We have the power. We can end the war.

Let's do that together.

Comments

[Marnie1]

I know it seem like the majority of Americans wishes, as regards Iraq, fall on deaf ears.

However, thanks Mr. Richardson for continuing to say the obvious, so that those of us who agree with you will not feel diserted and will continue to raise our voices. Maybe soon Congress will remember what it is elected for.

[win2kpro]

I believe the Senate resolution condemning MoveOn has backfired against them.

#1-It has made people who had never heard of MoveOn aware of their presence. #2 On numerous blogs I go to, I have seen more and more people say that because of uproar about the Petraeus ad they have contributed to MoveOn.

I know this is true at least in my case. Although I was aware of MoveOn I had never contributed, but I did contribute the day after the Senate passed their dumb ass resolution.

From what I read at various blogs the day after the ad appeared, MoveOn received about $500,000 in contributions.

Let these dumb fuck Senators continue to pass their resolutions and it gives MoveOn more money to place additional ads.

Lol, I'm ROFL laughing about the Republican Senators indirectly help MoveOn raise money.

MoveOn, keep on kicking ass!


JOHN EDWARDS IN '08

[aldee41]

The next President will be a Democrat.
Chose wisely. Chose Richardson.

[MissingAmerica]

It has hit me hard that everything this country needs is being blocked by a handful of men. Do you realize that one Convention Hall could hold every man currently holding this country back? We are in the millions, yet this roomful of misguided souls are winning. Meanwhile, it's not working. Our economy is horrid, housing interest rates have been lowered for buyers but the sellers are losing. The value of the dollar overseas is dropping every day, and the respect the world once held for this country is gone. Even our staunchest allies are backing away from us, much like those escaping the Titanic. When are we going to figure out how to cure this disease which Bush and his cronies have become? Anybody got the antidote to keep them from multiplying?

[unfoxworthy]

Bill,
I think I can speak for many here when I say that "We love your resolve", but we're also knowing that the "just end the war" sound bite needs polishing.
We understand that Iraq is no rudimentary issue and can't be dealt with at a rudimentary level with a one-liner.
Infer a plan to make Syria, Iran and North Korea stand down while we withdraw..and you'll have something!
Keep the resolve.

[Janelynne]

Great post. The Senate wastes its time on nonsense. This nation is corrupted by money and influence, and that is what the war is about. Patraeus is nothing more than another spokesmodel for the franchise, and if a Four Star General wants to use his career like that, he ought to hear about it. Free speech is not free. It costs many advertizing dollars to speak against the spin machine. The wealthy are using the middle class to fight this war, as Greenspan has even revealed, is for oil. Had Greenspan said, "If we lose the war, we are doomed" it would be talked about in the paper ad nauseum, front page, big letters. His reveal of the real reason has been buried by the media. This nation is sacrificing its existence and very essence on this war, as it offers human lives, national treasure, and the Constitution in the cause to help the weathy. Congress needs to wake up or be replaced one by one, Democrats and Republicans alike. We need to take back who we are.

[Hastings]

By embraceing the Surrender and Appeasement movement Gov. Richardson has squarely placed himself on the wrong side of history.

[kjg25171]

Bill Richardson is who I support. He says what he believes not what he thinks we want to hear. Case in point: he legalized medical marijuana in New Mexico. He said (I heard him) that a lot of sheriffs are angry at him for that but he did not care, because it is the right thing to do.

Another thing for which I admire him is that he appeared (I was there) at a rally for Darfur in San Francisco months ago. No other candidate appeared, they were to busy fund-raising.

[DAWK]

YOU TELL-EM GOV BILL! AND NOW...GRISHAM'S BOOK BLASTING ALL THE BUSH CROOKS,THEN THE COLLEGE PAPER SAYING 'FUCK BUSH'.
HONERABLE AMERICANS ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THE BUSH REGIME WAR CRIMINALS,SO WHERE ARE THE DEM'S 'BALLS'?
I CAN NOT COUNT THE ENDLESS TIMES BLOGING HERE,PROTESTING BUSH AND WHEN IS ALL THIS GOING TO END,BECAUSE WE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF OUR LAWMAKERS LACK OF COURAGE TO END THIS WAR.
FOR THE LAST TIME: IMPEACH BUSH CHENY AND ALL THEIR CRONIES,THEN CONVICT THEM FOR WAR CRIMES!

[average joe]

Your right Bill Ads don't kill like L B j.

[rucognizant]

If you want to be informed......read Riverbend's blog called Baghdad Burning. http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/
The archives go all the way back to 9/03.
SHe is an intelligent young woman confined to the family home, unable to contine her education through the chaos, throughout this time, until they finally fled to Syria, this month! Thankfully she is safe ( if, a refugee, in poverty ) UNLIKE ANNE FRANK WHO WAS ULTIMATELY KILLED......................
Those of us who were reading her blog knew Ahmed Chalabi was a crook long before most of the country became aware of it.
You DO KNOW don't you....that the constitution Paul Bremer set up for Iraq made it a jailable felony to save your heirloom seeds, making it mandatory to buy seeds from Monsanto. They aren't always productive in that climate, so the farmers spend a fortune, get no crops, and can't afford seed for the next season.
WE DID THAT TO THE INDIANS TOO> See the daily suicide rate of Indian Farmers.
http://www.crestofthewave.com/blog/index.php?itemid=58&catid=3
We are up tp our OLD TRICKS: kill off the buffalo so the Native Americans are dependant on us for food; maggoty beef! We, as a group, aren't nearly as nice, genereous, wonderful, as DIane Sawyer would have us believe on weekday mornings! How many of you out there have sorted out your cabinets and passed the out of date canned goods to to the foodpantry???????

[IMPRISONBUSH]

ITMAKES NO DIFERENCE TO OUR LEADERSHIP THEY ARE NOT IN " HARMS WAY " OR WILL EVER BE.
BUSH IS RUNING OUT THE CLOCK AND THE CONGRESS IS LETING HIM AT A COST OF YOUR SON TO DAY YOUR DAUGHTER SUNDAY.

[lisakaz]

Indeed, I share this exasperation. Congress is rolling over for Bu$h STILL. So much for him being a "lame duck" (whereas David Brinkley called Bill Clinton one on the night he was re-elected; how even-handed is that?). It galls me to no end that the truth about MoveOn's ad got lost is some comparison to the smear jobs against Cleland and Kerry -- where the truth was nowhere in sight -- and this whining by the GOP got more results than all the advocacy by We the People to END THIS "WAR."

I frankly think the only answer is to impeach this WH and Dems are too spineless anymore to fulfill their Constitutional responsibilities. I hope more people like Cindy Sheehan run for office to turn out all of these corrupt pols.

All democracy is in tatters and one president is not going to salvage it.

[Taan]

The surge is working, of course, where you have massed U.S. forces on the ground. The mayhem simply moves elsewhere only to return with a vengeance when the area is proclaimed "safe", and begin eliminating all Iraqis who were accommodating to the U.S. A majority of Iraqis have already voiced their desire for the U.S. to vacate their country. We cannot force feed them American democracy, a self-imposed political solution to centuries of tribal and religious animosities. The Administration simply bungled this misadventure from the beginning and assorted temporary band-aids will not work. Our entire approach has been what we want to happen, as if billions of dollars and massive military ordnance will somehow transform this stewpot of violence into a peaceful, democratic experiment. This approach completely ignores what the various Iraqi factions want. In fact, even the latter presents formible problems because the various factions are fighting for their own agendas. It remains as to whether the U.S. is willing to invest untold additional billions and the slow destructions of our military for a mistaken military adventure or let the Iraqis determine their own political future -- which will be necesary no matter our decision.

[chrematophobe]

Gov. Richardson, I so appreciate the clarity, good sense and perspective you bring to the madhouse that is currently masquerading as a political community. You are clearly the person we need in the whitehouse next, if our system survives the next 15 months.
I too would like to hear in more detail what if anything [or --one] you would leave in place of the soldiers, contracters and mercenaries now occupying Iraq, and how you would handle the oil "interests" that got us there.

[CactusTom]

First off this is not a war. We won the war a long time ago. It"s the occupation we are getting beat-up on.

The real strategic intent of the Bush administration is never discussed. Going to Iraq had nothing to do with fighting terrorism or taking out weapons of mass destruction or bringing democracy to the middle east. It was all about retuning Iraq to the status of an American client state as it had been before Saddam decided to go off the reservation and invade Kuwait. Only this time the Bush neocons intended to forever remain a physical presence in Iraq so as to insure its allegiance to our corporate interests, and while they were about beating the Iraqis into submission it would be an excellent opportunity to drain the national treasure into the pockets of the Bush Chaney corporate cronies.

Moreover, to help insure that we could never leave Iraq, we would sink countless billions into the world"s largest embassy along with permanent type military bases, investments that must be defended at even greater costs in men and treasure. And so when the Bush folks keep repeating the word "stay" they literally mean forever. Of course all this waste weakens America, but at least Bush and his corporate friends are rolling in dough and see big fat oil contracts in their future. Yes, get out. It"s a pipe dream to think we can shape Iraq to our liking without a brutal dictator to serve our interests to this end. Bush says he want to bring democracy to Iraq. What a bad joke that one!

[thepathforward]

Quoting, "But instead of continuing to push on the most important issue facing our country right now, yesterday Congress spent their time debating and condemning a newspaper ad by an anti-war group".

How shall the voters who put the Dems in the majority in 2006 come to understand this continuing assertion that "they don't have the votes" to facilitate any proactive and assertive change regarding the war in Iraq and other critical issues, or push for the long overdue diplomatic and political solutions in Iraq instead of this military only solution, which was reported to be the foundational reasons for the Dem election successes. And yet, 21 out of the total 47 Senate Dems voting voted "yes" on the noted condemnation of a newspaper ad? 45%.

And where is the similar concern and assertiveness by these same Dem members of Congress regarding their recently (failed) attempt to pass a resolution for childrens health care (as just one example)? Is a newspaper ad that important that nearly 45% of Senate Dems would step up to the plate and assert themselves while hiding in the closet on so many IMO much more critical issues? Or is it just that the vote on that newspaper ad issue was so very easy, and would not require any particular assertiveness, courage, or spine? And they wonder why their approval rate with the electorate in the polls is in the teens?

[Fan035]

The continuance of this war is all about George W. Bush's legacy. The war will continue until he leaves the White House unless Congress stops funding it and the chances of them doing that are slim to none.

[KeysDan]

The beauty of the Governor's plan is to start with the idea of complete U.S. troop withdrawal, a first and critcal step for any effective action. Simultaneously, political changes can be initiated along the lines set forth by Senator Biden, and residual forces of a truly multinational character can assist in preventing the worst that may happen, for example, wholesale murder and sabotage of services. We must keep in mind that there is no good solution to this mess and only bad options exist. However, the line about we cannot leave because the most horrible acts with occur, is promulgated by the same people who have been wrong on everything, to date. Do not believe them. We need to try anything other than "stay the course", which has now given way to "victory", once again. MoveOn.org should quickly come up with a new ad with facts and alternative thoughts--no cute headlines are needed now, they have the media's attention. It should be fact only and so hard-hitting so as to make the right wing nostalgic for the good old days, when they could wrap themselves in borrowed uniforms and salute Bush's lapel pin.

[WaterRat]

Bill Richardson is right.
The stupid whining over the MoveOn ad' by the GOP and limp Democrats wincing and cringing in the corner, makes me sick.
It was a clear message and did not slam the general. It simply stated : " Do not betray us." That's all.
It was a cry from the people - millions of them, who are just fed up and sick and tired of this meaningless war, hoping that the general would help bring an end to it.
He was honest when Senator Warner asked him whether the "war" had increased our safety at home. He replied that he couldn't say. But that reply said more than a book.
I don't think Move On was sticking it to the general. They know that he has to follow a mission detailed by his C-In-C. I think all of the people who paid for the ad' felt that way too. They just wished he had said "it ain't working." He did, only in another way, and none of the media interpreted it that way though. They keep harping about the ad'.
Remember the Swift Boat Veterans against Kerry? The ad' didn't even come close to that horrible and disgusting assault on a 'Nam vet.
MacArthur's Push on China during the Korean War resulted in "an advance to the rear," when he almost lost the 1st Mar Div and an Army division in the snows and mountains of North Korea.
Napoleon was whipped trying to invade Moscow limping back to France with less than half an Army
Hitler tried to invade Moscow, losing an Army
In Vietnam, undaunted by the French loss, or, surrender at Dien Bien Phu, America slugged it out with the Viet Cong until we finally realized maybe the French were right. Vietnam did not want to be colonized.
Now we're trying replace a Muslim society with American democracy. We're trying to get Shiites and Sunnis to come together, when they haven't spoken to one another for thousands of years.
It's time to move on and get this damned war over.

[noamjunior]

IF the Dems were smart they would have attatched a rider to the bill also condemning

Admiral William Fallon, chief of the Central Command
for calling petreaus a 'chicken shit ass kisser"

http://www.ipsnews.net/print.asp?idnews=39235

[Vajara]

In recent news reports, we have as many privatized soldiers in Iraq as official military types. Are they to be pulled out with our main body of soldiers? Will they stay and create more havoc and continue to shoot down innocent Iraq citizens?

I agree with our governor of New Mexico that we should pull everyone out, including the mercenaries. Stop the fear mongering about what might happen if we leave--no one knows and it can't get any worse.

[emsique]

Go, Bill! Keep pounding and maybe you will get the nomination. You have the best experience and resume to do the job, and we will keep working to get your message out. I like seeing your regular contributions to this site. I hope the other readers here can start seeing past the rock stars and look to the real thing.

[sulenn]

Equating ending the war with an ad is an unfortunate statement about the state of our nation.

I think Bush has 2 wars going and one of them is against Democracy. I call it the War On Democracy. If we win the war on terror but lose our fight against the War on Democracy it will not matter.

This week two events have dramatically told the story: the tasering and jailing of a student who was trying to ask John Kerry a question and the Senate vote against free speech.

The Bush War on Democracy has been moving forward against the rule of law, free speech, our rights to privacy and a general and growing disregard for the Constitution.

If if continues everything we value will be lost and our fight in Iraq will have been for nothing but a means to further enrich a few rich men.

The notion that the thoughts of a dishonest General lying to support continuing a war that
began with lies are sacred -- too sacred to be challenged in the face of the GAO estimate --
is an idea we have to challenge and oppose.

We were sold the war with other lies told to us by another General -- Colin Powell. Yes, Virginia -- generals do lie.

We have no chance to win against our enemies outside if we cannot win against the enemy within.

[Prakosh]

I agree. The Republicans just defeated an amendment that would have given our troops more rest between what are slowly becoming endless tours of duty in Iraq. The Democrats might have gotten some political traction from the Republicans shameful treatment of the men and women in uniform who are now serving 15 months or longer in the war zone before being shipped home to be shipped back out again for another 15 months. Some soldiers are on their third and fourth tours. Instead of holding onto this resolution and condemning the Republicans for their blatant disregard for the welfare of the troops, the Senate leadership instead allows a vote on this disgraceful and meaningless resolution. The Democrats who are chastising MoveOn.org over this ad are opportunistic, spineless, and wrong-headed.

Even Jon Stewart demonstrated that Patraeus was nothing but an administration stooge. If the Democrats meant business, they should have put Betrayus and Crock under oath and dispensed with the dog and pony show. The Pentagon report released after they testified contradicted them on nearly every count. Where is the outrage over their mendacity? Where is the outrage over their fabrication of the evidence? Where is the outrage over the false information that Bush and the other liars have fed the American people since they started screaming WMD, mushroom cloud, aluminum tubes, and immanent threat? Where is the outrage over the connection between Saddam and al Qaeda that Cheney and Bush too, repeated several times before finally claiming that he had never made that connection? Where is the outrage over the nearly $9Billion which vanished during the last days of the provisional authority and where is the outrage over the nearly $6Billion more that has disappeared? And finally, where is the outrage over the Inspector General who continuously stalled and stonewalled every attempt to investigate the fraud that continues unabated in Iraq today?

None of that outrage seems to have found its way to the Senate floor, or into even a non-binding resolution. Instead, 22 Democrats voted with Republicans against MoveOn.org. They should be ashamed--all 22!