The Bergdahl boomerang: GOP lawmakers who long urged a rescue now sour on the idea

[Crabtownboy]

Oh well .............criticize Obama for doing nothing, criticize Obama for doing something.

Rep. Richard B. Nugent (R-Fla.), a lawmaker whose three sons have served in the military, made the case of captive soldier Bowe Bergdahl a personal cause. Nugent delivered speeches about Bergdahl on the House floor. He introduced two resolutions affirming that the United States would not abandon him in Afghanistan.

What Nugent wanted, he told a crowd at a rally for Bergdahl in February, was for “the United States to do everything possible not to leave any members of the armed forces behind.”

But now, Nugent says that — when he said “do everything possible” — he did not actually mean everything. Now that Bergdahl is free, the Florida Republican has become a critic of the deal that freed him.

Nugent is one of several conservatives in Congress who have made a similar shift this week. First, they demanded that President Obama get Bergdahl back. Then, when the soldier was released, they blasted Obama for giving up too much to get him.

Those conservatives have been mocked by Democrats and cable-news talkers, who accuse them of playing politics. “It is clear they are worried his release could be seen as a victory for President Obama,” Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said on the Senate floor Wednesday.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...38698a-ece3-11e3-93d2-edd4be1f5d9e_story.html

 

[Don]

CTB - is it good that Begdahl is free? Yes.

Is it good that five Taliban leaders are free?

The "danged if you do" defense only works if what you do doesn't put more people at risk.

Do you think the country is safer as a result of Bergdahl's release? Or are you going to make the same economic mistake this administration makes over and over and over?

 

[Sapper Woody]

Oh well .............criticize Obama for doing nothing, criticize Obama for doing something.

If I tell my girls to get all the toys off their bedroom floor, I'm still going to be upset if they accomplish this by just moving them into the hallway and calling it good. Same thing applies here. "Bring him back" "OK, I'll get him back MY way."

 

[SolaSaint]

Really Crabby, you are going to defend Obama on this one? Are you James Carville?

 

[Revmitchell]

Man what a piece of work.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Really Crabby, you are going to defend Obama on this one? Are you James Carville?

Read my post in the OP. I did not defend or condemn Obama. I simply said no matter what he did the GOP would criticize him. After all they were running around saying he has to do something, he has to do everything to bring this fellow home. So, he did something and now they criticize him for doing something. Of course it is all politics with them. Now address the topic of the OP, OK?

Did you hear the Israelis released over 1000 prisoners to get one of theirs back.

 

[Don]

CTB - do you feel safer with this trade?

 

[Crabtownboy]

CTB - do you feel safer with this trade?

You are off the topic. If you want to ask me and others, start a new thread.

This one is about GOP politicians telling Obama to do everything possible to free this fellow, and now they say we didn't mean what we said.

My only point is to show they will never say he did anything right. Hypocrites.





Please address the topic. Thanks.

 

[Crabtownboy]

If I tell my girls to get all the toys off their bedroom floor, I'm still going to be upset if they accomplish this by just moving them into the hallway and calling it good. Same thing applies here. "Bring him back" "OK, I'll get him back MY way."

That would depend, if you had said, and I don't care how you do it, then you should not be as upset as in other cases.

The politicians kept making speeches calling on Obama to do anything possible to get him back. Now they seem to want to send him back.

 

[Crabtownboy]

GOP doublespeak: flip-flop-flip-flop-flip-flop

Sarah Palin Then:
“Todd and I are praying for Private First Class Bowe Bergdahl, his family, and all of his fellow soldiers who are putting their lives on the line to defend our freedom and protect democracy abroad,” Governor Palin said. “The capture of Private Bergdahl and the bombings in Jakarta prove that we have not defeated terrorism, and that radical extremists will stop at nothing to attack Westerners and our ideals.” July, 2009

Sarah Palin Now:
“No, Mr. President, a soldier expressing horrid anti-American beliefs – even boldly putting them in writing and unabashedly firing off his messages (http://nypost.com/2014/05/31/the-bizarre-tale-of-americas-last-known-pow/) while in uniform, just three days before he left his unit on foot – is not “honorable service.” Unless that is your standard.” June, 2014

Former Rep. Allen West (R-FL) Then:
“Then there is Army SGT Bowe Bergdahl still held by the Islamic terrorist Haqqani network, probably in Pakistan, in the same place where Osama Bin Laden was hiding. This past POW/MIA national day of recognition, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel reiterated a pledge to secure the young Army NCO being held captive, but have there been any actions? Any time, attention, or even mention from the Commander-in-Chief? Nah, no camera highlights in it for him.” December, 2013
Former Rep. Allen West (R-
FL) Now:
“Ladies and gentlemen, I submit that Barack Hussein Obama’s unilateral negotiations with terrorists and the ensuing release of their key leadership without consult — mandated by law — with the U.S. Congress represents high crimes and misdemeanors, an impeachable offense.” June, 2014

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) Then:
“I would support. Obviously I’d have to know the details, but I would support ways of bringing him home, and if exchange was one of them, I think that would be something I think we should seriously consider.” February, 2014

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) Now:
“This decision to bring Sgt. Bergdahl home – and we applaud that he is home – is ill-founded … it is a mistake, and it is putting the lives of American servicemen and women at risk. And that to me is unacceptable.” June, 2014


Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) Then:
“As part of ongoing efforts to urge the Department of Defense to do all it can to find Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl and bring him home safely, Senator Ayotte worked successfully to include a provision in the bill that presses Pakistan to fully cooperate in the search for SGT Bergdahl.” May, 2014

Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) Now:
“With 29 percent of former Guantanamo detainees having reengaged or being suspected of reengaging in terrorism, the administration’s decision to release these five terrorist detainees endangers U.S. national security interests. It also sets a precedent that could encourage our enemies to capture more Americans in order to gain concessions from our government.” June, 2014

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) Then:
“The mission to bring our missing soldiers home is one that will never end. It’s important that we make every effort to bring this captured soldier home to his family.” June, 2013
Gateway Pundit Jim Hoft Then:
Horrible. Obama to Leave US POW to Rot in Afghanistan After Withdrawal
Sgt. Bowe Robert Bergdahl was captured by the Taliban in 2009 in Afghanistan. Four months ago, his family in Idaho received a letter from their son through the Red Cross. He was still alive. But sadly it looks like Barack Obama is going to leave US POW Sgt. Bowe Robert Bergdahl behind.
Gateway Pundit Jim Hoft Now:
Figures. Obama Administration Promoted Bergdahl to Sergeant After He Reportedly Joined Taliban
In August 2010, the media reported that Private Bowe Bergdahl had joined the Taliban and was training jihadists on bomb-making techniques.
Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) Now:
“Well, my response is the president knew fell and well that these are the highest ranking Taliban people in captivity. And that’s the issue. It wouldn’t make any difference who Bergdahl was. [...] So they should have turned Hitler loose and that would have been the end of the war. No, that’s on his face, it didn’t pass the smell test.” June, 2014

Oliver North Then:
“Today, I received from the National League of POW/MIA Families, a “Never Forget Bracelet” emblazoned with the name of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. He was seized on June 30, 2009 in Afghanistan and is being held by the Haqqani Organization – a Taliban afilliated terrorist group – in northwest Pakistan. Sgt Bergdahl and his loved ones here at home deserve our prayers and encouragement until he is rescued or released. That’s what we do. We’re Americans.” November, 2011
Oliver North Now:
“Someone paid a ransom. Whether the Qataries paid it, or some big oil sheik, or somebody used our petrodollars, but there was a ransom paid in cash for each one of them, my guess somewhere in the round numbers of $5 or 6 million to get Bergdahl freed. I know that the offer that was on the table before was close to a million.” June, 2014

Rep. Rich Nugent (R-FL) Then:
“Last year, on the fourth anniversary of Sgt. Bergdahl’s capture, on the floor of the House of Representatives, I introduced a resolution in the House calling on the United States to do everything possible not to leave any members of the armed forces behind during the drawdown of Iraq and Afghanistan. Believe it or not, I had members of Congress come up to me and say, ‘I didn’t know we had a living POW in Afghanistan.’ That was shocking to me.” February, 2014
Rep. Rich Nugent (R-FL) Now:
“But what angers me so much about this situation is that knowing full well that there was strong opposition to a prisoner swap in Congress, the Administration decided to go behind our backs and release the detainees without the notification required by law.” June, 2014

http://thedailybanter.com/2014/06/republicans-sgt-bergdahl-now/

 

[RLBosley]

GOP doublespeak:

Look at the doublespeak:

Sarah Palin Then:
“Todd and I are praying for Private First Class Bowe Bergdahl, his family, and all of his fellow soldiers who are putting their lives on the line to defend our freedom and protect democracy abroad,” Governor Palin said. “The capture of Private Bergdahl and the bombings in Jakarta prove that we have not defeated terrorism, and that radical extremists will stop at nothing to attack Westerners and our ideals.” July, 2009

Sarah Palin Now:
“No, Mr. President, a soldier expressing horrid anti-American beliefs – even boldly putting them in writing and unabashedly firing off his messages (http://nypost.com/2014/05/31/the-bizarre-tale-of-americas-last-known-pow/) while in uniform, just three days before he left his unit on foot – is not “honorable service.” Unless that is your standard.” June, 2014

In defense of Sarah Palin (I can't believe I just typed that O_O) a lot of information has come out in the past 5 years that likely has changed her opinion. Accuse her of "flip-flopping" if you will (is that useless term still used anymore?) but not doublespeak.

 

[Revmitchell]

In defense of Sarah Palin (I can't believe I just typed that O_O) a lot of information has come out in the past 5 years that likely has changed her opinion. Accuse her of "flip-flopping" if you will (is that useless term still used anymore?) but not doublespeak.

OH I get it. Duh......you actually think crabby is sincere when he says Palin flip flopped. Yea that makes sense now.

 

[Revmitchell]

CTB - do you feel safer with this trade?

I do not feel safer with this trade how about you?

 

[JohnDeereFan]

Oh well .............criticize Obama for doing nothing, criticize Obama for doing something.

Boy, do you think Obama should be held to the law?

 

[RLBosley]

OH I get it. Duh......you actually think crabby is sincere when he says Palin flip flopped. Yea that makes sense now.

ummmm.... what?

EDIT: NVM, I get it.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

Sarah Palin Then:
“Todd and I are praying for Private First Class Bowe Bergdahl, his family, and all of his fellow soldiers who are putting their lives on the line to defend our freedom and protect democracy abroad,” Governor Palin said. “The capture of Private Bergdahl and the bombings in Jakarta prove that we have not defeated terrorism, and that radical extremists will stop at nothing to attack Westerners and our ideals.” July, 2009

Sarah Palin Now:
“No, Mr. President, a soldier expressing horrid anti-American beliefs – even boldly putting them in writing and unabashedly firing off his messages while in uniform, just three days before he left his unit on foot – is not “honorable service.” Unless that is your standard.” June, 2014

How is this a flip flop? You realize that, in 2009, we still didn't know that he was a deserter or Taliban sympathizer, right?

How is it a "flip flop" to change your opinion based on updated information?

 

[Revmitchell]

How is this a flip flop? You realize that, in 2009, we still didn't know that he was a deserter or Taliban sympathizer, right?

How is it a "flip flop" to change your opinion based on updated information?

See you are in the same boat Bosley is. You actually think ctb is sincere when he says that.

 

[RLBosley]

See you are in the same boar Bosley is. You actually think ctb is sincere when he says that.

I see. Well I can only go off what he says, not what I think he means. He may actually think it was a flip flop. I don't know.

Only partially related: I really hate that term - flip flop. As if changing your mind is something to be avoided or ashamed of. Stupid.

 

[Revmitchell]

I see. Well I can only go off what he says, not what I think he means. He may actually think it was a flip flop. I don't know.

I understand, but the longer you are on this board the more you will learn.

 

[RLBosley]

I understand, but the longer you are on this board the more you will learn.

:laugh:
Your optimism is really too much.