Without giving a timetable which President Bush has clearly resisted, two US Senators began to see eye to eye as they looked at America on “Face the Nation”.
While President Bush and Congress has just achieved a compromise bill signed by President Bush which will fund his surge, there is little doubt that the handwriting is on the wall unless something major happens during the interim.
America is in shreds over the Iraq War which is indicative of the battle on The View between Rosie O’Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck and emotional appeals on the floor of Congress even by Republican John Boehner (R-Ohio) who started to cry in defense of American patriotism and supporting President Bush’s war efforts.
Still, the “Face the Nation” face-off might not seem like much but it is indicative of where the nation is today—looking at September.
The television show pitted Sen. Jeff Sessions, a conservative Republican from Alabama and Sen. Carl Levin, a Democrat from Michigan.
Both feel that the nation and Congress is moving in a different direction and the tell-tale sign will be September Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, issue a report to Congress and to President Bush as to whether the current strategy is effective..
Sessions said, "By September, when General Petraeus is to make a report, I think most of the people in Congress believe, unless something extraordinary occurs, that we should be on a move to draw those surge numbers down".
Sessions' statement came two days after those by Senate Republican Leader Mitch Mc Connell of Kentucky who said "I think that the handwriting is on the wall that we are going in a different direction in the fall, and I expect the president to lead it."
However, Levin asked pointedly, "Why wait until September”?.Levin is the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman.
"But this government in Iraq has got to step up. And we've got to be able to draw our troop levels down to be in a more supportive role, an embedding role, a training role. And they've got to defend their own country."
Meanwhile today, the United States and Iran are having high-level talks to determine if there are any points of agreement.The US hopes it can persuade Iran to stop its fueling of the Iraq War, particularly, the Shiites.
Nonetheless, it is obvious that despite the posturing by Levin and the anger by many anti-Iraq war Democrats, September will be the real face-off as the next round of funding will be in the mix.
Ok then thanks for pointing that out to me.I should have said it was about the same as Iraq.But i still belive the reason no one wants Media coverage is the tourist trade.Why is New Orleans letting this crime wave grow,when they have had the backing of the national guard for a year and a half.Why is the media not covering the historical event of a American city having to have the national guard patrol it for over a year and a half.Why has ray nagin or Mary landrieu not ask the
state Legislature for help while they are in session.In fact i have not heard Mary Landriue talk about the violence in New Orleans.I will say this for the first time in history, it is starting to look like we are losing an american city to the criminal element.161 murders the year before and all ready 75 murders this year.When people brag about committing a 60-day murder,” the length of time suspects can be held without charges. The police often blame prosecutors for refusing other cases and the courts for letting violent suspects out on bail.Again it is the Louisiana battle cry,it is someone else fault.
People are scared to even talk to the police now in some nieghborhoods, so a lot of crimes are not even being reported anymore.
Written by Susan
on 5/30/2007
Hi Susan - this is a quote from you - "TW i live close to New Orleans and yes i belive it is as bad as Iraq."
Written by TW
on 5/30/2007
TW we have said enough on this topic.New Orleans needs help and on that i know we can agree.
Written by Susan
on 5/30/2007
Actually TW my son does say that the streets of some major cities are as dangerous as some streets in Iraq. 2 soldiers on leave from their second tour of Iraq were killed recently on streets in the United States. Happens all the time. Soldiers die in traffic accidents, murders, just like everyone else. Is it more dangerous in Iraq? Yes. You still have not told me if the issues I asked about were discussed which leads me to believe that it is as I thought, only the bad news was discussed. Oh BTW Susan is correct. New Orleans still has National Guard patrolling the streets. And still there are multiple murders on any given day or night. If both the police and the National Guard cannot guarantee the safety of the citizens when a much of the population has not returned; what is going to happen when they do.
Written by Sharon
on 5/29/2007
TW i forgot to mention the 447 Assaults already this year in New Orleans.Violent crime total this year reaches 753 and keep in mind some people are to scared to report any crimes now.Better keep the national guard around until someone starts to get the media to bringing national attention to the growing problems of New Orleans.
Written by Susan
on 5/29/2007
Oy. I don't how to respond to such clearly delusional nonsense from you two (Sharon and Susan). If you want to believe that New Orleans is more dangerous than Iraq, so be it. And I live in New Orleans, so you don't have to "inform" me that the National Guard is here. I would like to point out to you, however, that they are primarily concentrated in low population density areas to help with property crimes, and are not really being used in high drug-trafficking areas, high murder rate areas, etc.
Written by TW
on 5/29/2007
You still did not respond to my question about the discussion on Face the Nation. You should check out www.2theadvocate.com this morning. Read the article headlined Judge. Seems the Judge sees what I see and wants to stop it.
Written by Sharon
on 5/29/2007
New Orleans is not more dangerous than Iraq, but it's the only city in the US that has to have the National Guard to help patrol the streets. Isn't it time for Nagin to step up and take control of his city. National Guard troops can't be good for tourism. Listening to the debate between Congress is about as enlightning as listening to Rosie & Elizabeth.
Written by Sid
on 5/29/2007
Look TW if your happy with New Orleans that is fine.I think it should get more media coverage to help,but heck i only live close to New Orleans and that is not living in New Orleans.I really hope you stay safe and at least some areas stay crime free.I guess i am only worried at some point the bad people or going to spread out.I really wish you happiness and best of luck.
Written by Susan
on 5/29/2007
Susan, the elevator just doesn't quite make it to the top floor of your hotel, dahlin'. The delusional aspect of what you wrote is that New Orleans is more dangerous than Iraq. I never said I don't want media attention on the city (although some positive attention would be more welcome than negative), nor have I ever claimed that our city was without problems. No New Orleanian in his/her right mind would ever say that, even before the storm. And yes, we have a homicide problem that is horrendous. As for the article in the Advocate, Sharon, I don't know what to say about it. I just don't agree with the Judge's sentiment. Clearly he was mistreated upon returning from Vietnam, and I would hope that progressives learned their lesson from the aftermath of that war and will treat troops with dignity and respect this time. I think that's the case, actually, to be honest with you. I don't know any of my friends who are so very much opposed to this war who blame the troops. The blame rests squarely on the heads of those in the Cheney Administration, whom I regard as war criminals. But I simply cannot abide this notion that you don't support the troops if you don't support the war. That's idiotic horsecrap, and it's the kind of shyte you hear in fascist or communist states - not the United States of America, where gdi, dissent is patriotic.
Written by TW
on 5/29/2007
TW i said it looks like a war zone.I did not say it was worse than Iraq,That is you trying to put words in my mouth.Go back and read the post and show me where i said it was worse.All of the Crime Statistics are real,75 murders ,Violent crime total is 753 already this year and living in New Orleans you know it climbs even higher during the summer months. Why would you not want National Media coverage for the dead in your city but count the dead in Iraq so much.TW if you wanted the Media coverage you would have at least been talking about it allready.Is it because your scared of losing the tourists trade?I think between a democrat mayor and a democrat governor everyone is hiding the problem of New Orleans.If New Orleans had a republican mayor this crime spree would be all over the news.The numbers of crime are real and yet they tell the tourist come on down it is so safe we have the nation guard on patrol.When people die and spread fear and you have the national guard on patrol night and day.I say again it is close to a war zone.Why is New Orleans letting crime run free,when they have the backing of the national guard.But like a good democrat sheep you would rather call names than discuss the real problems of New Orleans.You count the dead in Iraq and ignore the dead in your own city.Car bomb are drive by shooting does not matter because both cases leave behind death and terror.
Written by Susan
on 5/29/2007
Here is a link to a show about life after katrine.It is worth watching .http://link.brightcove.com/services/...ctid=909953053
Written by Susan
on 5/29/2007
TW if you live in New Orleans how can you not want more Media attention so just maybe something is done about it.It is OK to you that many people have died in New Orleans and no one cares enough to get national media coverage to get help.I have met some very cold people in my life but if can call the truth delusional nonsense,because the killings are not in your neighborhood that is not only cold that is delusional.Why have the National guard stay in you think it is not Dangerous.All of the Crime Statistics are real,75 murders ,Violent crime total is 753
already this year and living in New Orleans you know it climbs even higher during the summer months.Please no offense why would you not want National Media coverage for the dead in your city but count the dead in Iraq so much.Is it because your scared of losing the tourists trade?
Written by Susan
on 5/29/2007
TW i live close to New Orleans and yes i belive it is as bad as Iraq.75 people killed already this year and people are bragging about it.New Orleans is a small city now and the national guard has been patrolling sense katrina.Ironic guards patrolling sounds like a war zone.Now Baton Rouge has seen a spike in murders and i belive they had 15 murders according to some crime Statistics.Now baton rouge is the larger of the two cities and yet they have had only 15 varying New Orleans 75. Between the 75 murders and the Nation Guard having to patrol the city day and night,kind of sounds like a war zone to me.In fact i know of no other city in our country that has had to have the national guard patrol for over a year and a half in the history of the united states.Sorry i Fixed the spelling mistakes
Written by Susan
on 5/28/2007
D-oh!
Written by Ed
on 5/28/2007
Face the Nation and the View. Two examples of our media today. Both lean heavily left. Senator Sessions is not the type to get into a shouting match with Levin. Whatever Petraus recommends will get backing from this President. Since I did not see the show, could somebody tell me if there was any mention of the success in Anbar Province or how many of the sheiks are beginning to come to our side? Petraus is going to them instead of the mullahs. Was there any mention of the Iraqi citizens freed by us from the insurgents? My guess would be no because that would be an example of success. I am pretty sure they discussed military deaths and the capture of our soldiers. Not very balanced coverage.
Written by Sharon
on 5/28/2007
Ah, Sharon, your rhetoric has grown tiresome. Here are some data on just how "liberal" "Face the Nation" is: http://mediamatters.org/static/pdf/MMFA_Sunday_Show_Report-Charts.pdf
Check out the third graphic. "Face the Nation" has less of a conservative bias than the other Sunday morning shows, but it still has a conservative tilt.
For the curious, this is from David Brock's "Media Matters" investigation entitled "If it's Sunday, it's Conservative" - I'm sure it's not going to change your mind, Sharon, but maybe some open-minded readers might find it interesting. The corporate media hardly harbor a liberal bias - check out the BBC or other foreign media outlets if you want to see what that really looks like!
Written by TW
on 5/28/2007
Tim Russett. Conservative tilt. Yeah, right.
Written by Sharon
on 5/28/2007
Sorry TW. Tim Russett is Meet the Press another news program that presents both sides of every issue and asks the same question of everyone on a subject. BoB Shcieffer I am told is the host of Face the Nation. Whoever. Did they discuss the subjects I presented? Or did they stick to the bad news to which I referred. Reading that there were 5 murders in New Orleans last night one might argue that some are just as endangered in this country on any given day as our soldiers are in Iraq.
Written by Sharon
on 5/28/2007
HaHaHa. Media Matters was established in 2004 and is dedictated to correcting Conservative misinformation. It monitors "conservative" print, radio, and TV and puts out opposition comments on a timely basis. Their staff includes David Brock "Right Wing Media & How it Corrupts Democracy" and "Blinded by the Right", Eric Alderman Columnist for the left wing publication The Nation, various liberal professors, a colmunist from the Boston Globe, and a former intern of the extreme liberal Chuck Schumer. According to this group, perhaps Face the Nation does have a "conservative tilt". HaHaHa. Good Try, TW
Written by Sharon
on 5/28/2007
TW so if someone is killed by a car bomb is that different than being killed by a drive by shooting.Now try follow along here for a minute.I read a while back some of the accused murders were getting out in 60 days.Then they were hunting up the people who turned them in.In fact it was so bad they started bragging about doing a 60 day murder rap.Now good people are scared to turn them in or even complain about anything the bad people do.So i guess i see a resemblance to terroist.Because this gangs and thugs have struck terror in to the hearts of the good citizens of New Orleans.Are Americans being murder in New Orleans and the rest of the country not worth counting.It just seems to me if the media focused on the crime in New Orleans they could make a real difference.
So again TW why are 75 dead Americans in New Orleans not as bad as Iraq.Is it ok they are killing and striking terror because they are American gangs.Also 75 dead in a city of 250 thousand people is very high, but it is in America so i guess they just do not count.Now the national guard has been deployed for over a year and a half.Wonder why they are still there if New Orleans is so safe and crime free.Sorry but i think if you have to have the national guard protecting people a year and a half later it is close to a war zone.5 dead in just this last weekend.So just maybe if people started being outraged and got the media to focus on the crime in New Orleans things might change for the better.Or do you think fear and the national guard should just become a way of life in New Orleans.One more question TW do you need the national guard to patrol the city you live in?Or can you tell me of anytime in our history we have needed to the national guard to protect people in a city for so long.
Written by Susan
on 5/28/2007
TW i live close to New Orleans and yes i belive it is as bad as Iraq.75 people killed already this year and people are bragging about it.New Orleans is a small city now and the national guard has been patroling sencse katrina.Ironic guards patroling sounds like a war zone.Now Baton Rouge has seen a spike in murders and i belive they had 15 murders acording to some crime Statistics.Now baton rouge is the larger of the two cities and yet they have had only 15 vering New Orleans 75.
Between the 75 murders and the Nation Guard having to patrol the city day and night,kinda sounds like a war zone to me.In fact i know of no other city in our country that has had to have the national guard patrol for over a year and a half in the history of the united states.
Written by Susan
on 5/28/2007
Hey Susan, how many car bombs went off in New Orleans last year, or maybe, say, since the invention of the car? Use your head, for chrissakes.
Written by TW
on 5/28/2007
"While President Bush and Congress HAS just achieved a compromise bill signed by President Bush which will fund his surge, there is little doubt that the handwriting is on the wall unless something major happens during the interim."
With literacy and proper grammar comes credibility.
Written by Rick Zimmerman
on 5/28/2007
Sharon, and your point would be? Also, do you REALLY think it's more dangerous here in New Orleans than in Iraq right now? I doubt your son would agree.
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