Bush makes threat to those opposing troop increase; Hagel slams administration, again!

Most had said long before the November elections that if Democrats took control, many Republicans in Congress would be "jumping ship" so to speak. That is, they would likely begin to speak out against Bush's failed policy - not only in Iraq, but at home too. After dropping the hammer on "Conda-liesa-liesa-liesa-lot" in Senate hearings last week, Chuck Hagel (R-NE) on CNN today slammed the Bush administration again, AND claimed Congress needs to be more assertive, saying "this is not a monarchy," and going on to say:

"We are no longer just going to quietly stand by, as we have done for the last four years, and let our young men and women be thrown into this conflict when they cannot affect the outcome."

He can join a growing number of Republicans who oppose the McCain doctrine, and while some media reports claim he's the "second" one to come out against it, he's actually the seventh, including Sam Brownback of Kansas, Norm Coleman of Minnesota, Gordon Smith of Oregon, George Voinovich of Ohio, Susan Collins of Maine, and Olympia Snowe of Maine.

According to an article on CNN's website:

Acknowledging their party is divided on Iraq, Republican leaders are trying to stave off a showdown in Congress by casting Democratic efforts as a political ploy to embarrass the president.

The White House cautioned lawmakers about the consequences of voting against a buildup.

"The one thing the president has said is, whatever you do, make sure you support the troops," Snow said at the White House. "And the question people who support this resolution will have to ask is, how does this support the troops?"

Awww, so George Bush thinks he can make idle threats now? CONSEQUENCES of voting against sending our troops into a civil war in Iraq? Now what would they be, pray tell? My guess would be that Bush would send them anyway! And to the Republican leaders: George Bush has done a fine job embarrassing himself, Democratic "efforts" to save the country aren't responsible for it.