Ron Carey Owes Madia An Apology

Last week, Minnesota Republican Party Chairman and press release addict, Ron Carey attacked Ashwin Madia for having a position on Iran, which is more than we can say about Madia's opponent Erik Paulsen.

From MDE

Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Ron Carey today released the
following statement regarding 3rd District DFL-endorsed candidate Ashwin Madia’s
position on Iran.

“After the second day in a row of Iran test-firing missiles and
boasting that their ‘hands are always on the trigger,’ we face a stark reminder
Iran remains a serious threat to U.S. allies and U.S. interests.

Disturbingly, Ashwin Madia appears to disagree with the consensus of so
many when he says ‘Iran is not a threat.’ This serious lack of judgment is just
one reason he lacks the qualities necessary to serve in the U.S.
Congress.”

As we all know now, the Bush Administration has followed Madia's diplomatic lead and will sit down for talks with Iran.

Carey and Republicans also overhyped the Iran missile launch mess.

According to several sources, including Drudge, the missiles Iran tested were older versions of that has a range of 750 miles, meaning Israel is out of range. Photos from the event were doctored as well.

Our government has decided on diplomacy for now.

Surely we expect Carey to issue a press release today condemning the Bush administration for their cowardice in pursuing diplomacy.

While Erik Paulsen continues to have no opinion on Iran or Iraq, no solutions, Ashwin Madia continues to lead.

Erik Paulsen on Iran

It's very similar to his Iraq policy.

A search of his website shows no mention of Iran either.

Ron Carey continues his strong of idiotic press releases with one issued yesterday. Glad to see he's following the format!

Madia speaks eloquently about Iran, his words are measured.

Iran is not a threat. It is a concern to be dealt with diplomatically.

What's wrong with that? Remember the last time we ramped things up because Iraq was a threat? More than 4,000 of our soldiers have perished in this quagmire in Iraq.

Madia has a plan. He has experience.

Paulsen can't even summon the testicular fortitude to mention either on his website.

Now that's leadership.

Bachmann in Monticello Times

Congresswoman Bachmann is featured in two articles in the Monticello Times.

Bachmann speaks before the Monticello Chamber over lunch.

On the differences between the 06 race and 08

“In 2006, we were at a pivotal stage in the Iraq conflict,” she said. “We were preparing to answer the call for more troops in the region, and I got to be there shortly after that happened in 2007 when I spent Fourth of July in Iraq with our troops. I went back again in for Christmas Eve. And the progress we made in that six months was astounding.”

On taxes

She said her home district has been especially hard by taxes. The middle and upper-middle class share a tax burden that is at historic highs. In some cases, her constituents are paying in the 40 percent tax rate.

“That’s a number that needs to go down to about 20 to 25 percent,” she said. “That’s going to move the economy.”

So she pushes her friends in Congress to continue the Bush tax cuts, implemented before she arrived and phased out as the Democrats took control last year. She said she’s heard no discussion to keep them going, which is wrong, in her opinion.

Her background

“I guess, with my background, I wasn’t a complete neophyte,” she said. “I think owning a business with my husband helped a lot. Raising our foster children gave me experience with government. Working as an attorney and a federal tax attorney helped. So I had a good sense of what was to come.”

She added that six years in the Minnesota Senate was also a huge help overcoming the partisan “poison” that is so prevalent in Washington, as well.

“Coming from Minnesota, you learn to reach across the aisle,” she said. “Some of my closest friends there are Democrats. The problems we’re going to face in the next term are so big, no one party can solve them all. You have to work together. I think I’ve made that a priority and will continue to do that.”

When the campaigning begins, Bachmann said she’s ready to “come home” and spend time with “real people.”

“Conversations with the people you meet back here are where real legislation comes from,” she said. “I get excited to come back. I can’t wait. This is the fun part of the job. You get feedback and learn from real people. That’s the best.”

Bachmann reaching across the aisle? Seriously? Her voting record would suggest otherwise.

The "conversations with people you meet back here" bit is equally as alarming. 16 months into her term as Congresswoman and we have yet to have an open forum with the Congresswoman.

While public citizens don't have the opportunity to talk to their Congresswoman, Bachmann did take some time to meet with the Monticello Chamber Government Affairs Committee.

“This is great,” she said. “This is where legislation comes from, conversations
like this. I’m honored you would ask me to sit down with you.”

Yet she won't help with DeSoto Bridge funding.

On immigration and Iran

Q & A session

Prior to the roundtable, Bachmann held a brief Q and A session after giving her remarks to the Monticello Chamber of Commerce.

She touched on various topics, including the Iraq war, immigration control, healthcare and energy conservation.

She was particularly emotional about immigration, a subject that she made headlines with back in February when she was very critical of the system that allowed the woman charged with crashing into a bus in Cottonwood, Minn., to continue driving.

“We’re losing our country,” she said. “People are not assimilating themselves to America. They’re not speaking English, and you must speak it if you want to succeed here in this country.”

A Monticello businessman asked about a fence along the southern border of Texas and Arizona.

“The money is there. Why haven’t we seen anything?” he asked.

“Exactly. The money is there. It’s our (Congress’) fault. We aren’t doing our job here,” Bachmann replied. “And the argument that fences don’t work doesn’t hold water. Look at Israel and Palestiine Fences work. Maybe people have too much interest or benefit from open borders.”

She also was questioned on the status of a conflict with Iran.

“War will be the last resort,” she said. “We can’t afford to be the lead on it this time. We have work to do in Afghanistan and Iraq,” Bachmann replied.

The article also stated that the Chamber and Bachmann had a lengthy discussion on the mortgage lending crisis and the epidemic that has risen from this in Wright and Sherburne Counties. No details were given.

Fear mongering on immigration...it will get much worse as the 2008 election cycle continues.

South Korea like Iraq?

President Bush wants our presence in Iraq to be similar to that of South Korea?

"The Korean model is one in which the United States provides a security
presence, but you've had the development of a successful democracy in South
Korea over a period of years, and, therefore, the United States is there as a
force of stability," Snow told reporters.

Two problems with the comparison. First off, we did not invade South Korea. The situation in Korea is maintaining a "peaceful" existence between North and South Korea. Unless Bachmann's plan is absolutely true, a divided up Iraq, would create problems that pale in comparison to what we have experienced in South Korea.

Ever been near an Army base in South Korea? We, our government, has turned those areas into cesspools of prostitution, sexual slavery and other debauchery. Imagine how popular we will be when we bring that to Iraq.

Secondly, we're not as popular in South Korea as the Bushies paint us to be. The year I was over there was filled with large anti-American protests in Seoul and the small Korean village we were stationed near. Tens of thousands of Korean college students would take to the streets on a regular basis, protesting our occupation of Korea.

Most weekends were also laden with threats of soldier kidnappings.

Ever been hit by a rotten tomato and other rotten veggies and stuff? It's not a fun experience.

Our popularity has fallen over the years as American forces continue a stronghold on popular places in major Korean cities.

Plus, it helps that President Bush is looking at Iraq through the same covered military bino's he peered at North Korea through back in 2002.

Bachmann in the SC Times

The SC Times has a story about Congresswoman Bachmann's topsy turvy first year in Congress.

The Bachmann agenda?

A former federal tax attorney, Bachmann also wants to reform the tax code
and repeal the alternative minimum tax and estate taxes.

She wants to have a national tax debate but declined to say what
specific reforms she would support.

As a member of the Republican Policy Committee, she is working on a
Taxpayer Bill of Rights to boost U.S. competitiveness by lowering taxes and
advocating a fairer and simpler tax code.

You would think as a "former federal tax attorney" that the Congresswoman would be pretty open about the reforms she would support.

And who could forget Bachmann's fetish with the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

The Congresswoman still does not understand Higher Education funding.

Bachmann has strayed from the GOP on only a few votes. One was legislation
to reduce the interest rates on student loans that passed the House in
January.

"That vote actually won't bring down the costs of tuition," she said.
"It's a very expensive proposition. It just lowers that interest rate in half
for six months. ... It's not really addressing the essence of the problem. The
essence of the problem is that tuition is far exceeding the rate of
inflation."

How could we expect the Congresswoman to understand who sets tuition? She only served 6 years in the Minnesota Senate and she did nothing for higher education.

Her justification for her vote in this piece of legislation plays upon the naivete of the voter. Tuition is set by the various systems across the state, after an appropriation from the State Legislature. The Federal Government has little to no influence on the tuition at Ridgewater College.

But they can help out students seeking lower cost student loans, which Bachmann failed to support.

Iran is still her mind. Perhaps she has heard John McCain sing "Bomb, bomb, bomb...bomb, bomb, Iran" a few too many times.

She said she has learned some lessons when she misspoke in a podcast
interview with the St. Cloud Times. Her remarks that Iran was planning to
partition Iraq and turn it into a "terrorist haven" made headlines.

"I made a misstatement. I did that, but my remarks were widely
misconstrued," she said. "What it taught me is that this is a serious position.
I need to be especially careful about the remarks that I make," she said.

Bachmann also said there is a double standard in the media because it
tends to have a "leftist bias."

"A pass can be given to a different point of view than mine," she said.
"I've had a lot more scrutiny than people who come from a liberal
persuasion."

Wow.

She despite changing her story at least three times in regards to the Iran issue, she is holding true to the "my statement was misconstrued line".

Gotta love the lefty bias card too. For the record, if Patty Wetterling or John Binkowski kissed the President or made the statements about Iran, I am sure the media would have ripped them to shreds as well.

But then again...neither of these two individuals would have made excuse after excuse and changed their story...again and again.

Bachmann changes her Iran story again: The Big Question blog

Congresswoman Bachmann has once again changed her position on the Iran comments she originally made to Lawrence Schumacher at the St Cloud Times.

Eric Black has a very long post that puts all of this together for us. It is an excellent account of what the Congresswoman has said the 3 previous times and her recent interview with a Christian radio station in the Twin Cities.

Frankly, the radio interview comes across as an effort to blame the
media in general and your obedient ink-stained wretch in
particular for whatever problems her original insupportable
claims caused for her.

Just another attempt by Bachmann to shift the blame to someone else and not take accountability for her own actions.

Why didn't she talk about this at all when she had 3 hours of air time at KTLK? She didn't take any calls, since it was probably pre-recorded, and could have controlled her message that way.

Bachmann has declined to be interviewed for this post, saying through her
spokesperson that she will stand on her earlier statements.

Of course she declined. She is praying vehemently that we forget about her 100 day reign of terror...

Here are some excerpts from the 4th version. Read this in its entirety here!

Bachmann: “And I said: What!? In 90 minutes to go from a reporter initially
questioning me to now it’s on Rush Limbaugh?

And what the Star Tribune did, which I think is wrong, is they went ahead and they posted a story without talking to me, on the Internet. It had gotten onto the Drudge Report. Drudge had gotten onto Rush. And all of a sudden you had a national story.

The thing that is awful, that’s difficult for people to understand is that once the media, the major media puts a spin on a story, you can’t change it. I mean it’s impossible. It gets repeated over and over.

The suggestion was made that I had suggested that there was a written agreement that Iran was going to divide Iraq. I did not say that.”

Bachmann's own words:

“They’ve already decided that they’re going to partition Iraq. And half of Iraq, the western, northern portion of Iraq, is going to be called…. the Iraq State of Islam, something like that. And I’m sorry, I don’t have the official name, but it’s meant to be the training ground for the terrorists. There’s already an agreement made. They are going to get half of Iraq.”

What can be distorted there? Those were her words.

Eric Black responds to Bachmann's Christian radio bit.

Is That a Fact? (All alleged issues of alleged journalistic malfeasance
aside, here are the main substantive problems with the radio interview and
the current state of Bachmann’s Iran-Iraq position. Bachmann has abandoned the
what-I-said-was-not-what-I-meant tone of the op-ed piece, and returned to her
earlier claim that what she said in the first place was true and correct, except
for a lack of precision and failure to give examples.

What she said in version one was that Iran had a plan with another
party — it’s now clear she had Al Qaida in mind – to divide Iraq in half
between them and set up a terrorism zone. That statement disappears in versions
two (the I-was-misconstrued press release) and four (the radio interview),
except for the vestigial assertion that the missing piece was true all
along.
But even if we give up on Bachmann making a straightforward
retraction/clarification and sticking by it, there remains a fairly serious
problem with all of the versions: All of them include a statement that Iran
wants to see Iraq partitioned.

But is that a fact? Bachmann says that this fact has been widely
reported in the media. But it hasn’t been widely reported and Bachmann has
offered no evidence that this is so.

In the op-ed that ran in the Strib under Bachmann’s byline, the third
and best version of her position, she adduced some evidence (a
Reuters story) that something called the Mutayibeen Coalition, which Reuters
described as linked to Al Qaida, had posted a video online in October of 2006 in
which the coalition “called for a separate Islamic state in Baghdad and other
areas with a large Sunni Arab population.”

This evidence is not overwhelming. But personally, from what I know of
the situation, it is not far-fetched that elements of Al Qaida would hope to
control the Sunni Arab portion of Iraq (nor that if Al Qaida did control such
territory, it could become a base for terrorism).

But the Iran piece of Bachmann’s case for “America’s adversaries are in
agreement that a divided Iraq benefits their objectives” is much weaker. And
bear in mind, this piece was written to redeem an original claim that Iran had a
plan and an agreement to divide Iraq.

The more the Congresswoman tries to run from this error in judgment, the more her integrity suffers.

I think most people would have been forgiving had she immediately come out and acknowledged her mistake. It happens to all of us.

But to continue to bury one's head in the sand and reject any premise of sanity and accountability shows the regard regard, or a lack thereof, for her constituents. Just listening to her on the radio a week ago now, not one constituent was able to call in and speak to her.

Regardless of all this, she will still be the toughest GOP candidate to beat in Minnesota in 2008. Dump Bachmann has a post up about Tarryl Clark and her unlikely run at Congress.

They also have coverage of Bob Hill's run as well.

Anyway, I'm all Bachmanned out for the day...

Thanks Eric!

Pelosi what if...

Just for the hell of it, what if Speaker Pelosi and her delegation is actually responsible for Iran releasing the UK soliders?

Damn that would be a sweet, big ole middle finger to W.

Oh well...

Monty Python guy speaks out on Iran

It's actually a rather funny rant.

I share the outrage expressed in the British press over the treatment of our naval personnel accused by Iran of illegally entering their waters. It is a disgrace. We would never dream of treating captives like this - allowing them to smoke cigarettes, for example, even though it has been proven that smoking kills. And as for compelling poor servicewoman Faye Turney to wear a black headscarf, and then allowing the picture to be posted around the world - have the Iranians no concept of civilised behaviour? For God's sake, what's wrong with putting a bag over her head? That's what we do with the Muslims we capture: we put bags over their heads, so it's hard to breathe. Then it's perfectly acceptable to take photographs of them and circulate them to the press because the captives can't be recognised and humiliated in the way these unfortunate British service people are.

US Forces paraded detainee's around in orange jump suits with sand bags tied over their heads. I wonder how hot, humid and uncomfortable that was in tropical Cuba?

He also takes a shot at what the United States is doing at Gitmo.

The true mark of a civilised country is that it doesn't rush into charging
people whom it has arbitrarily arrested in places it's just invaded. The inmates
of Guantánamo, for example, have been enjoying all the privacy they want for
almost five years, and the first inmate has only just been charged. What a
contrast to the disgraceful Iranian rush to parade their captives before the
cameras!

I completely understand the seriousness of this situation. However I do think its important to assess progress through the eyes of the world. The major media conglomerates across the nation distort public perception through their nightly biased programming.

We don't fully understand what the global community thinks of us, as a nation. Bush paints us as liberators. Many see us as aggressors. Hence, footage of the Iranian treatment of British soldiers draw outrage in the US, but is seen as much kinder treatment than what US Forces deliver.

Jones makes this point in a humorous and sarcastic way, which is right up my alley!

Bachmann plays dodgeball with the questions

In the greatest of dodgeball tradition, Congresswoman Bachmann is well versed in the 4 D's of dodgeball.

Duck

Dodge

Dip

Dive

In the past few weeks, the Congresswoman has used each of the 4 D's and the rest of her repertoire to avoid questions around her Iran statements.

The SC Times and Randy Krebs hits right on target today.

First, though, some unsolicited advice to local newsmakers: If you're ever being
pressed to answer questions on a tough issue, just answer them with honesty, sincerity and, oh yes, details.

Silence hurts

Just look at Bachmann.

The first-term Republican was off to a rough start in the House, thanks to partisan sharks and too much PDA (public display of affection) with the president.

But she really got herself stuck in accountability doo-doo these past few weeks by failing to fully and promptly explain comments she made for a Times podcast Feb. 9 about settling the war in Iraq.

When national media picked up on her remarks about 10 days ago, her silence became deafening. And guess what? The issue didn't go away. Finally, on Thursday, she issued a written commentary and participated in an interview with Times reporter Lawrence Schumacher to help explain herself.

Sure, her explanation sounded too much like "well, I read it on the Internet," than what I'd expect from a member of Congress. But at least she stopped dodging the issue.

I'm no political expert, but speaking strictly as a voter, her reputation would have been damaged much less with immediate answers instead of silence. She really would have gained my respect had she come out and said the most-feared words in politics — "uh, well, I'm sorry, but I made a mistake on this one."

Instead, all she really accomplished is guaranteeing that this will be an issue come re-election time.

Indeed Mr. Krebs, it will be a significant issue in 2008. Bachmann supporters are hoping she tames her act and her comments over the next year or so before the real campaigns begin. After all, it's only about a year until we hit precinct caucuses!

Nice work!

Startribune Blog House: Bachmann edition

The Startribune Blog House is very good today.

Lutefisk Liberal has done a great job covering these issues! Check them out here!

"Michele Bachmann speaks the truth," blogged Lutelib at Lutefisk Liberal. "Iran
doesn't just need its own crazy, messed up country, it wants someplace new ...
like a hostile part of Iraq. ... This is the smoking gun that we needed going
into Iraq: Bachmann. Now let's redeploy some troops, take some troops out of
Afghanistan, spend some more trillions and get in there! Let's spread the good
news ... about freedom! 'Curses! If only Minnesota hadn't sent that infidel
Bachmann to DC!' Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is probably saying, as he rips up his plans
for a new Iraq-Iran War."

Publius is equally as good!

Matt at MnPublius doesn't find the whole situation funny. "If Iran really does
have a plan that she knows of, it is of obvious importance that she clarify and
back up those claims. After all, I think this is something we should do
something about if true. But [if], as multiple experts on the region seem to
conclude, her plan is just smoke and mirrors, she owes a very serious apology to
Americans nationwide and, more importantly, our troops in the Middle East. This
whole series of strange statements begs the question: Is Michele Bachmann ready
for the spotlight?"

Huffington's post was just soild! Wokette still thinks their family has a blackberry addiction though.

Lizz Winstead explained on the Huffington Post the flaw in Bachmann's theory.
"Michele, honey, write this on your hand so you can reference it during
interviews from now on: Iran -- Shia, Western Iraq -- Sunni. Michele, if only
you had brought a map of Iraq with you on your trip to crazy town, maybe you
would have seen that: A. A big part of western Iraq is a fun little area called
'The Sunni Triangle.' I'm certainly no scholar in Islamic relations but I may
have read somewhere about some disagreements the Sunni are having with the Shia,
which leads me to believe the Sunni wouldn't be that cool with giving up Anbar
for a Shia Killing Club. And Michele hon, ya kinda overlooked this part: B.
Given that Syria (70% Sunni) is Iraq's neighbor to the west, it doesn't seem
they would be that psyched about a Shia terrorist training camp on their border
either. And Michele, here's where the map REALLY woulda come in handy for ya in
that interview: C: Let's say you were Iran. And Michele, I am NOT saying you are
Iran, you have a much sunnier disposition and way better outfits. But, if you
were Iran and had worked out some deal to take part of Iraq to start up a big
terrorist training expo, wouldn't you take THE PART OF THE COUNTRY THAT BORDERS YOURS!!! ... Oh Michele, you could have saved yourself all the backpedaling and clarifying if you had quit your daydreaming in Congress and stopped doodling hearts and G.W.'s all over your Iran homework. Congress isn't just one big party, you have to learn stuff too."

Defending the Congresswoman

Accountability.

The word Republican's hurl around like third graders in T-ball. Eventually, someone catches it but its funny to watch the process.

As you recall, Congresswoman Bachmann stated publicly, that a plan for the dividing of Iraq existed, with Iran obtaining a large portion, in the north west portion with a name that Bachmann thought was right, but was not 100% sure.

She failed to return multiple phone calls from reporters and then issued a statement that her comments were misconstrued.

We did not misconstrue anything Congresswoman, we heard you loud and clear.

Pundits like Jason Lewis, Andy at Residual Forces, and an anonymous blogger going by the handle dare2sayit, all defend the Congresswoman's idiotic statements.

They cited an extreme liberal media bias, a bias that runs deep in the Twin Cities media market.

Stories break all the time. Eric Black admits that writers at Dump Bachmann tipped him off.

It does not make it any lessor of a story.

What about all the breaking "news" on Keith Ellison, Mike Hatch, Tim Walz, Matt Entenza, and Amy Klobuchar.

Jason Lewis and Residual Forces had a great deal of fun "exposing Democrats". Stories on all these individuals made local headlines.

Remember the E85 gaffe?

It was a gaffe. Dutcher was held accountable for her words.

So what do the Republicans do? They attack Eric Black from the Startribune and writers at Dump Bachmann.

Reject the premise of the question. That tactic always works for the GOP.

But the other side of the story, from us people who think most of Bachmann’s
statements are plausible and defensible are being ignored by Black, because HE
demands that HE is the one who gets the answers and directly from Bachmann. The
answers HE wants to have Bachmann provide to HIM and HIM alone.

Andy thinks her statements are plausible? He calls the Dump Bachmann crowd "derranged"!

Perhaps my standards are too high. I would have expected the Congresswoman to simply hold a news conference and clarify her statements. Explain how she got that information. Not too difficult really.

Silence feeds the problem.

DJ Tice at the Startribune comes out and defends the actions of his colleague and the paper.

Bill Pendergast, a contributor to Dump Bachmann states,

You and Black think YOU’VE got problems with the Jason Lewis crowd?
I’m one of the contributors to DumpBachmann, like most of the contributors I’m a
patriotic married male heterosexual who loves his country–and Lewis repeatedly
described us to the Twin Cities radio audience as a bunch of “angry lesbians,”
“radical militant lesbians” who “hate America, hate the western tradition, and
hate capitalism.” What a jackass, as is anyone who trusts him to tell them the
truth.

It’s not that Lewis and his audience don’t "understand" how journalists
get tipped off to stories–it’s that they don’t "care," they don’t care about
reality. They live to smear; their careers are built on feeding the anger and
paranoia of their audience, regardless of the facts. It’s a propanganda program,
like almost all conservative radio since Rush. Since when do those guys care
about checking their information or getting the facts right and presenting them
to the public truthfully?

Eva Young, who spoke on air with Lewis states,

Jason Lewis called both I and Karl Bremer insane. He also said the site was
liberal democrats - and he knows very well that I’ve been involved with Log
Cabin Republicans. In fact, I was a guest on his show in that capacity.

I don’t think newspapers should just take tips, and do no additional investigation. Instead, good journalists, take tips, and research further. In this case, that’s what Eric Black did. Lewis made the claims that Black never got a statement from Bachmann before running his story. The reason for that was because her office refused to talk to him about this story.

This is what Lewis said about Dump Bachmann:

“This story was nothing more than a plant by a website run by a bunch
of angry lesbians and radical pacifists called Dump Michele Bachmann. In fact I
know one of the people that heads up Dump Michele Bachmann - and this woman is
so obscessed with her sexuality - to her own detriment by the way - that she’s
lost all sanity. I know some of the people who are involved with Dump Michele
Bachmann that give it aid and comfort if not directly involved - like idiots
down in Stillwater by the name of Bremer who is a pacifist, just a lunatic, they
hate America, they hate Bachmann, they hate western tradition, they hate
capitalism.”

At Dump Michele Bachmann, we’ve documented Bachmann’s bizarre
statements and behaviors for years. It’s good that she’s finally getting the
spotlight she deserves.

Eric Black also comments. Nice to see that Jason Lewis is so willing to have open dialogue. Black offered to go on air and Lewis declined the offer.

I heard Jason Lewis had gone after me by name Friday and Monday, so I called him and asked that if he is going to publicly impugn my integrity, he have the decency to offer me a chance to come on the show and defned myself. He replied that he was under no obligation to do so, but would try to in future because we know each other. He also said he didn’t believe he had impugned my integrity.
Then I listened to the tape of the show. He portrayed me as ‘on my knees” before the anti-Bachmann “lesbians” and America-haters, taking dictation from them. I’m quoting from memory, but I’m pretty sure he said that all who consider themselves journalists should be ashamed because of what I had done.
Not sure what he would have said if he had wanted to impugn my integrity.
He also defended Bachmann’s statements as accurate and something of which people all over Washington are aware.

Yikes. I thought I remembered Jason being smarter and more intellectually honest when he was here the first time. I was torn between ignoring the whole thing, and writing a post about it, so thanks again Doug for providing this opportunity for me to relay this without having to base a whole thread on it.

Jason Lewis is the typical chicken hawk, Republican coward.

Remember, this all started because a Congresswoman opened her mouth and spoke on a subject that was beyond her knowledge base. She sounded crazy and accepted no responsibility for her words. As long as she continues to play dodgeball with the issue, we'll keep fighting.

Strib letter of the day

Congresswoman Bachmann was labeled "dangerous" in the Startribune letter of the day for Feb 28th.

Americans and Iraqis are losing their lives daily, and we have a congresswoman shooting her mouth off as though this were all a game.

Bachmann is once again showing how out of her realm she is in the halls of Congress.

I could not agree more.

Black talks about Bachmann

The Big Question at the Startribune is carrying more discussion of the Bachmann / Iran commentary.

The Congresswoman is practicing the "4 D's of Dodgeball" as we speak, as she dodges, ducks, dips and dives from and away her Iran commentary.

Black has attempted numerous times to speak with the Congresswoman.

Unfortunately, Bachmann decided not to talk to me on Thursday or Friday,
nor, so far as I can tell, any other reporter. I asked again Monday, five times.
I held this post back for a day, hoping that instead of discussing her two
previous statements, which pass each other – and the legitimate
questions they raise – like ships in the night, I could instead provide her
opportunity to put the matter to rest. I did not receive even the courtesy
of a reply.

Perhaps she is meeting with her Rovian handlers trying to find a way to spin this thing?

Perhaps she's seeking legal counsel for slipping confidential information out to the public?

Who knows.

200,000 blog hits later, the Strib knew they had a story.

I believe her constituents are still entitled to a straight answer about
that and I repeat here my request for an interview to seek that
clarification. I interviewed her many times during her 2006 campaign
and was always completely straight with her and would be so again.

The SC Times agrees with Black's commentary.

She needs to fully explain either how she knows of a plan to split Iraq in
half, or if she was talking over her head — way over her head — in making that
statement.

The Iraq war is too important an issue. Any member of Congress, even a
junior member of the minority party, must be accountable for such claims.

One thing is certain, campaign commercials in the 6th will be interesting, to say the least, next election cycle.

The story will follow Bachmann until she actually addresses the issues behind it. Her statements that her comments were misconstrued are insulting to constituents like myself. I am an educated man and fully understand her comments.

They always say it's not the act that gets the politician in trouble, but the cover-up. Perhaps the Congresswoman hasn't heard that one before.

SC Times Opinion on Bachmann

The SC Times has an opinion today on Congresswoman Bachmann's Iran comments.

While I agree with the Times assessment, I do chuckle a bit inside knowing that the SC Times had these comments 17 days ago, and now are calling for a clarification. I know the Strib and the progressive blogosphere have forced this hand to be played, but I wonder if the SC Times truly knew what it had and attempted to bury it, or they just simply did not realize what they had.

She needs to fully explain either how she knows of a plan to split Iraq in half, or if she was talking over her head — way over her head — in making that statement.

The Iraq war is too important an issue. Any member of Congress, even a junior member of the minority party, must be accountable for such claims.

Again, its about accountability. When a Congressperson steps up and says something, people listen. These remarks are heard across the world.

I think this shows a complete contrast between Bachmann and other Minnesota members of Congress. While Congressmen Ellison and Walz are holding hearings in their district on predatory lending, the Farm Bill, DM & E fight and other important Minnesota matters, Bachmann is finally opening a Congressional office in the state.

Meanwhile, constituent services suffer.

Despite a term and a half in the Minnesota Senate, Congresswoman is a "not ready for prime time player". Other freshmen legislators, Ellison, Walz and Klobuchar, have hit the ground running.

I hope the 6th CD doesn't wallow in Congresswoman Bachmann's extremist agenda. Perhaps if the Congresswoman focused on the "work of the people" and not the shock jock politics she is accustomed to, we'd see positive results for our district.

That's one helluva an if!

Excellent LTE in SC Times

Posted at Dump Bachmann as well.

On the SC Times website.

She went so far as to say, and I quote: “There’s already an agreement made; they’re going to get half of Iraq and that is going to be a — a terrorist free — a terrorist safe haven zone.”

I can’t see how this statement was misconstrued as she indicated in her press release on Friday.

None of us can see how these comments were miscontrued. It's just a pathetic attempt at spin.

Story Chat comments are epic in nature. Keep in mind, percieved liberal media bias or not, if Congresswoman Bachmann had not made such insane comments, this is not a story.

Micromanaging a Clusterscrew

In the Army, I had a much more vulgar term for what is going on in our Department of Defense right now, specifically in Iraq and our military hospitals.

Condi is out now telling Dems to not micromanage Iraq.

"Then you're going to have the worst of micromanagement of military affairs. And
it's always served us badly in the past," she said.

I have said this once, and I'll say it again. In order to micromanage something, doesn't it have to be managed beforehand? Iraq has not been managed well since the quagmire began 4 years ago. At some point, we need accountability. We need people to step up to the plate, take charge, and change the direction of our situation in Iraq.

Will greater Government oversight over Walter Reed Army hospital and VA facilities be met with similar rhetoric?

Clearly we would not have micromanagement issues if the majority of American's beleived the Iraq strategy and our soldiers and Veterans were being supported.

It's easy to cite micromanagement issues when the current political powers that be want to continue a "strategy" of keeping our collective heads in the sand, kind of like that South Park episode.

So Bachmann backs off her comments now?

Conservatives are out working hard to save one of the only true Conservatives the Republican's have left in Minnesota. Whether its Jason Lewis debating Eva Young on KTLK or blogs like Residual Forces coming to Bachmann's defense, the spin is out in full force.

Lewis and RF place the blame on an ultra liberal agenda to smear Congresswoman Bachmann.

They fall seriously short though in explaining why the Congresswoman made these comments. The bottomline is, had the Congresswoman not said such outrageous comments, this would not be a story.

Did Bachmann just make that stuff up? Who would have entrusted her to such information. If anyone on the Minnesota GOP delegation would have been John Kline. Hell, he carried the nuclear football! I know, I saw the commerical.

But I digress. SC Times coverage.

First, we misconstrued her comments.

In a statement she issued Friday afternoon, Bachmann, R-Minn., did not retract her remarks on Iran but said they had "been misconstrued."

The release did not specify how her words had been misconstrued, nor by whom. But it reframes her partitioning statement to say that "there are multiple reasons to believe (Iran) would seek to expand their territory to include Shi'a Iraq."

I did not misconstrue her comments, how could any of us misconstue this maddness?

“And half of Iraq, the western, northern portion of Iraq, is going to be called ... the Iraq State of Islam, something like that. And I’m sorry, I don’t have the official name, but it is meant to be the training ground for the terrorists.

Did Bachmann leak confidential info?

Bachmann did not explain where she received her information, though Bachmann
said in a Jan. 21 Times story she and U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., had received "classified information on the war effort" during a visit to the Pentagon.

If, and that's a big if, this info was learned in this meeting, we have another Valerie Plame case on our hands.

Political science professionals weigh in. From the Strib.

University of Minnesota political scientist Kathryn Pearson, who specializes in Congress, said Bachmann's original statement was "extremely irresponsible." Members of Congress are privy to intelligence that the rest of the public isn't. So when a member of Congress says something of such significance, the first assumption is that she knows something that the public doesn't. So on that basis, people are going to take it seriously.

"Either this is top secret information that she's leaking, which is a problem. Or she's presenting her thoughts on a very serious topic as if they were established fact, and that's a problem for other reasons," Pearson said.

Washington University Prof. Steve Smith, another Congress watcher who lives in the Sixth District, said Bachmann's first statement "was a pretty strong claim to make. If she can't back it up she should be held accountable."

Smith speculated the original statement was drawn from some ideas circulating in "the neoconservative network in which she circulates."

Not even two months into the Bachmann term and all this news. We know that she is a lightning rod for controversey, but she definately does herself more harm than good with rants like the Iran rant.

Bachmann knows of plans to divide Iraq

Ed Schultz talked about it for a minute during his radio show a bit ago and the Stib has the sccop!

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann claims to know of a plan, already worked out with a
line drawn on the map, for the partition of Iraq in which Iran will control half of the country and set it up as a “a terrorist safe haven zone” and a staging area for attacks around the Middle East and on the United States.

The extended quote courtesy of "The Big Question"

“Iran is the trouble maker, trying to tip over apple carts all over Baghdad right now because they want America to pull out. And do you know why? It’s because they’ve already decided that they’re going to partition Iraq.

And half of Iraq, the western, northern portion of Iraq, is going to be called…. the Iraq State of Islam, something like that. And I’m sorry, I don’t have the official name, but it’s meant to be the training ground for the terrorists. There’s already an agreement made.

They are going to get half of Iraq and that is going to be a terrorist safe haven zone where they can go ahead and bring about more terrorist attacks in the Middle East region and then to come against the United States because we are their avowed enemy.”

Why do we have to be represented by the biggest lunatic on Congress. Seriously!

Where are the Washington Post, New York Times and other major news sources on this? If the plan to divide up Iraq is out there, no offense, how come Congresswoman Bachmann is the first elected leader in the United States to come out with this nefarious plan?

Bizarre, absolutely bizzare.