So it is with conviction that I support ...

[Bread and Circus]

...this resolution as being in the best interests of our nation. A vote for it is not a vote to rush to war; it is a vote that puts awesome responsibility in the hands of our President and we say to him - use these powers wisely and as a last resort. And it is a vote that says clearly to Saddam Hussein - this is your last chance - disarm or be disarmed.

Thank you, Mr. President.

October 10, 2002

Floor Speech of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
on S.J. Res. 45, A Resolution to Authorize the Use of
United States Armed Forces Against Iraq

_____

In my humble opinion:

1.) the IWR was never in the best interests of our nation.
2.) any sensible person knew that Bush was rushing to war and this gave him a clear path.
3.) arming bush with "awesome responibility" was really dumb.

Millions and millions of average people all over the world knew the score. It is utter Bullshit to believe HRC with all her intelligence, political access, and "brazillions" of years of experience couldn't see the forest for the trees.

Let's get this very straight, at the time Bush was polling at very high number approval rating. Clinton has ALWAYS had Presidential ambitions. She thought at the time if she obstructed a popular President on his way to war that it might diminish her future politcal options.

The blood of so many Iraqis, soldiers and other nationals is on her hands. They died to buy her another stepping stone on her way to the White House.

What she did is nearly inforgiveable.

However, if she admitted even a tiny mistake forgiveness could be shared. And yet, she has only maintained that she was misled. However, it is she that is doing the misleading, then and now.

I think anyone who seriously is considering supporting her should take this fundamental example of her behavior as proof of her inability to lead and lack of sound judgement.

[Richard Steele]

1. It is she that is doing the misleading, then and now. K&R

[DJ13]

2. ......arming bush with "awesome responibility" was really dumb.

I agree, and this illustrates to me why Hillary shouldnt become President.

Her judgement was tested by that vote, and she buckled to the political pressure in play at that time and sold our country out.

[suston96]

3. Not enough of the speech quoted.....

My vote is not, however, a vote for any new doctrine of pre-emption, or for uni-lateralism, or for the arrogance of American power or purpose -- all of which carry grave dangers for our nation, for the rule of international law and for the peace and security of people throughout the world.

*******

So it is with conviction that I support this resolution as being in the best interests of our nation. A vote for it is not a vote to rush to war; it is a vote that puts awesome responsibility in the hands of our President and we say to him - use these powers wisely and as a last resort. And it is a vote that says clearly to Saddam Hussein - this is your last chance - disarm or be disarmed.

"A vote for it is not a vote to rush to war;" Get it? Blame the people who voted for the resolution instead of the idiot who ignored the warnings of Clinton and others not to rush into war....Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and the rest just love you for it.

[ihavenobias]

4. But again

how has she voted *since* that initial, wrong vote? Isn't that the real issue as discussed here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x331580

[Bread and Circus]

6. Sorry, but that holds no water whatsoever.

It is 100% certain that Bush was on a rush to war, come hell or high water. DU knew this. Millions of people knew this. The IWR was a means of giving Bush permission to proceed, cutting short the inspections. Hillary knew what was going to happen just as much as me and you. Saying that she didn't know what Bush was going to do with her support support is a ruse. She was misleading then and everytime she fails to apologize for her vote and says "omg I just had no idea Bush was going to rush to war" she is lying.

And yes, I included a small part of the original speech but I challenge everone to read it in its utter entirety. The prevaracation and double speak throughout the whole document is enough to cause dyspepsia at the very least.

However, when the rubber meets the road, she did what she thought she had to to cover her ass and keep her Presidential dreams alive.

One is just plain stupid not to see this and if they do see but don't want to admit to it, then they are guilty of similar double speak and prevaracation.

[sandnsea]

5. Just days before the actual invasion

when Bush was misusing the authorization, as she says now,

here's what she was really saying then:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYATbsu2cP8

The vote doesn't matter. It's her months of support for the war afterwards that matters.

Where was her "Do Not Rush To War" speech?

[Bread and Circus]

7. and all that support was because Bush was then popular and she

wanted to glue her ideas to that popularity.

Granted a lot (and when I say a lot I mean almost all of them) were in lockstep with the President.

However, there are some that spoke out AGAINST the war, even when it was unpopular to speek in such a way.

[Barack_America]

8. Hillary's defense is that she didn't know what she was voting for?

And that's supposed to be better?

I rather somebody just admit they made a mistake than to say they didn't know what they were voting for.

That's awful.

[Bread and Circus]

9. That's John Edwards tact. He actually admitted his frank mistake.

and so, I would support him gladly because he has come clean. He does NOT continue to lie about the most important thing any of them have probably done in the course of their lives.

Has Clinton come clean on this?

Nope. Nada. Not ever!

Instead, she trades an apology and the truth for more lies.

[sandnsea]

10. On the advise of the Clinton people

That's why he says he made the vote he made. He was trusting Clinton administration people. The Dem IWR strategy is 100% theirs. Plausible deniability with a couple of triangulating sentences, and then on to war we go.