SOTU: Hard to argue with the message

Posted: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:24 PM by Hardball

By Tucker Carlson

It’s repulsive to watch Democrats who hate Bush for a living beg for his autograph as he leaves the chamber. Get some self respect.

If U.S. forces leave Iraq, the flawed but fundamentally pro-American government will fall, and the country—possibly the region—will explode. That was the truest, most important thing Bush said tonight. Yes, he’s a flawed messenger. But it’s hard to argue with the message. Those who say we ought to withdraw troops immediately ought to explain why they believe otherwise.

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Comments

Jim Webb is definitely a man. He spoke eloquently and truthfully. I agree with him wholeheartedly because he spoke from the heart.

Tina, Spotswood, NJ (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:30 PM)

Who were these begging democrats.....Name Names!!!

Harold SE Wisconsin (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:31 PM)

I agree Tucker with the fact that we can not withdraw troops from Iraq until it is stable. Yet, do you truely believe that the new troop surge will really make a difference? We are nowhere near the recommended one American or Iraqi troop per every 50 Iraqi civilian in Baghdad.

Banks Smither, Charleston, SC (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:31 PM)

the iraq government may fall but so will there be long term damage to this government.

bob lese cincinnat, ohio (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:32 PM)

I agree 100%, what a waste of time, money, resources and lost lives to leave now. With the investment we've made in the building of bases in Iraq, I believe it'll be like South Korea, we're never leaving.

Heather, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:32 PM)

Bravo Mr. President! That has to be his best speech yet, and with that in mind...Mr. Webb was dishonorable in his personal attack on the president.

Stephen Alexander, Atlanta, GA (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:32 PM)

We need to withdraw troops immediately because whether itis today or ten years from now...the region will explode...we all know this. Unless you propose we annex Iraq....we will not solve this issue, we will only become the new strong man.... I prefer not to lose another american life in pursuit of this insanity. It is unfortunate that this administraiton created this obscene situation....However hat is not a reason to continue, in the name of the American people, the participation of our precious forces..

Mike Hartley Mt Pleasant SC (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:32 PM)

OK, I'll bite. I would like to hear someone use the word "accountability" for our gross error(s) in Iraq. Someone needs to take the hit for 3000 American lives wasted in Iraq. We cannot overlook this point. Bush lied to America. Bush needs to be held accountable. Those of us who were in opposition to the war from the beginning were criticized and had our patriotism questioned. I hate it that we are in the position we are in. I just do not see how we can "win" in Iraq. Rather than convince us why we should leave. I am still not convinced we should stay.

Al McMullin, Lawrenceville, GA (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:33 PM)

Bush is busy tryin to look good in the last two years. Also, but it seems to have put some to sleep. I had to watch it for school. We will debate it. But as a high school student I hope the "No Child Left Behind Act" will finnaly be put to an end.

Blair Thompson, Orting WA. (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:33 PM)

The answer is two-fold: (1) Our obligation to protect our troops is greater than our obligation to the Iraqi people; (2)U.S. forces should be replaced with U.N. Peacekeeping forces, per The Kucinich Plan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS6JyiAt0xg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbY3PBo5-5Y&eurl= Stop The War Now! - video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9TYvv1uoDQ

Ron Corvus Dallas, Texas (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:39 PM)

Maybe instead of an autograph the democrats were trying to get him to endorse a check for the billions he's blown on Iraq.

David Sheffield, Los Angeles (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:40 PM)

Webb had some great ideas about getting our troops out of Iraq and he specifically stated that he would remove them from the "streets of Baghdad", not as an immediate withdrawal. We are in the mess in Iraq because Bush did not listen to the military or others within the intelligence community. This quagmire was unnecessary and now we must deal with it. Thanks, George.

Chris Cheshire, Parker, CO (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:40 PM)

I really agree with you...I hope those democratic sycophants are ashamed of themselves when they have Bush's autograph framed...And hanging on their walls. SHAME ON THEM!!!!

David Watterworth, North Carolina (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:41 PM)

You may be right Tuck but that is a false argument, pulling out precipitously is not the only other option. This increase in troops does nothing to solve the problem and the president refuses to use diplomacy. We need to pull our troops out of Bagdad, remain engaged in Al Anbar, patrol the borders and engage Iran and Syria. The president has rendered prisoners to Syria, but he can't engage in back door diplomacy with them? Come on!

Grant, New York, NY (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:41 PM)

It's NOT hard to argue, we just have no one sane enough to argue with. Tucker you're clueless in Bushworld.

Carl Pallone, Selden NY (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:42 PM)

Maybe you political pundits should stop listening to each other and actually listen to people like Joe Biden and Bill Richardson. The alternative is not necessarily an immediate pull out. Redeploy to the Syrian and Iranian borders and negotiate with them for a mutually acceptable solution that benefits all concerned - not just our imperialistic objectives which have failed miserably. Maybe I missed the indepth discussion by our "president" about the need to negotiate a regional solution to the mess we created.

Robert, Kingfield ME (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:42 PM)

Becuase weather we stay or go we have opened "pandora box". This administration has had it's eye on Iraq from the beginning and their failure to try to address the Israel/Palestinian conflict before starting another just compounds the problem. How many more lives have to be lost before we talk to Syria and Iran, try to get help and leave. We do not need to keep pouring our young men and woman's blood down the drain becuase Bush cannot admit he made a mistake. Becuase he is to much of a little boy to admit that he needs help. He has lied to the American people even as recent as November 2006 (we are winning) and he does not get anymore passes.

Pearlene Scott (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:43 PM)

Jim Bell must not be very well informed on the economy. We have run a small tuckpointing, waterprofing business. We have been in business for 19 yrs. The last four years have been the best. We have been able to give all our employees substantial raises, sharing the wealth. We are not union but they make a union wage. When Clinton was in office we almost went under twice. As for Iraq, what is the Democratic plan. I don't know what other options we have but to send more troops. The democrats just infuriate me. Give us a good plan for SOMETHING...........

Cindy Heine St. Louis, Missouri (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:44 PM)

I am sooooo tired of general tv pundits acting as if they know ANYTHING about the complex history, culture, politics and military issues of Iraq. Tucker, give it up. Why the heck you think you should be giving any "opinions" that pass for "facts" on these issues (or right-wing talking points - see Liz Cheney's Op-Ed piece today in the Washington Post) I have no idea, but I am sick of it. You are not a Middle-East expert. You are not anything! Give it up. You are a pundit and television host. Period. And, you know little or nothing about the Middle East.

Louise M, Warrenton, VA (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:45 PM)

and what is your point?? he didn't elaborate on anything but the evil empires....

L.Hutton CDA (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:45 PM)

clueless Tucker....perhaps FOX NOISE would be interested in hiring you..??

L.Hutton (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:47 PM)

Dear Mr. Carlson, Get over yourself. I can remember Resmuglicans just dropping dead at President Clinton's feet for an autograph. Jeeeeeeez.... Personally I wouldn't be caught dead standing next to Mr. Bush, a bolt of lightening would have missed him & struck me dead instead. The man is still lying his back-side off for goodness sake. Look, I started out on Mr. Bush's side when he sent troops to Afghanistan to get OBL & if Mr. Bush had simply stuck to doing just that this Dem might have still been on his side. But, Mr. Bush "Federalized" OUR National Guard troops & sent them to Iraq. Those National Guard troops(as I was taught in my civics class); belong to the states, in other words US. When the 9/11 attack occurred those troops should have been deployed along OUR borders, at our sea ports, at our public buildings, & our air ports & train stations to protect us. I blame the slow response of the National Guard to Katrina on not enough troops being in NOLA to help. Mr. Bush & "Dead-eye" Dick Cheney have a lot to answer for Mr. Carlson, ALOT!!!!

PLHeart (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:49 PM)

The money, all the money that could have been spent to fix our great nation, is being spent in Iraq. Thats why we should withdrawl.

Jill PA (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:51 PM)

Tucker, they weren't begging for his autograph they were getting a hand writing sample to get a psychological profile on the perpetrator. Your "flawed but fundamentally pro-American government" supplied the uniforms, SUV's and ID's to the SOB's that ambushed and killed 5 Americans in Karbala. Wonderful new allies. We can stay their 50 years and when we come home it all goes back to the way it was. Of course...maybe that IS the plan...never come home. Guard our oil that God so carelessly put under their sand. You Bush apologists spend a lot of time telling us what will happen if we don't stay in the quagmire. You don't spend a lot of time criticizing the incompetence that got us there. Hard to argue? I don't think so. In Vietnam the Dominoes were supposed to fall if we left. When we did finally come to our senses an leave, all that happened was the rice paddies stopped exploding and now you can go down to Wal-Mart and by a polo shirt labeled made in the Republic of Vietnam. Of course you would have to have actually been inside of a Wal-Mart to find that out.

Gary Schear, Bozeman, Montana (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:52 PM)

Iraq -> two options 1) Slowly withdraw (mainly because of the losses we have had that the media loves to keep remindining us all). Well, that is a sunk cost; we should only consider what we can modify, slowly withdrawing is only going to make it harder on the troops that are left there. 2) Putting the last bit of strength and try and finish it all. Again, this can yield either the same result as option 1 or it can work, but at least there is a probability that it will work. Immigration: President you are completely right Health Care: I could not care the least State of the economy: other than keeping an eye on the chinese becoming rebelious and trying to "diversify" their foreign reserves (meaning: sell dollars) we are better than ever Energy: I love how democrats keep saying that he has been trying to cut our dependence on foreign oil for sometime but that the President has not delivered. Let me tell you something: "It takes over 10 years to get a medicine approved by the FDA... How long are you expecting to cut the dependence on foreign oil to take?"

GS, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:54 PM)

Is Tucker serious? He always find holes in democrats. I like the guy, I know he is smart but sometimes he is just not different from the the O'REILLY,..and the foxnews clowns. The same president who created the bipartisan Iraqui group then dismissed it's work is talking about bipartisan group on the war on terror? and Tucker is faulting dems for taking autograph? We are at war today because people like you who blame dems for everything but never the president.

koudjo , Norman,Oklahoma (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:54 PM)

Yeah - let's negotiate some more! That makes as much sense to me as believing democracy can't work in the Middle East.

Chris Clark, Syracuse, NY (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:54 PM)

As Bush stated, we're not in the fight we picked but nontheless in a fight with grave consequences. So why not give our service men and women what they need to get the job done? Coming from a military town, Fayetteville, NC home of Ft. Bragg and the 82nd Airborne, these men and women are doing their jobs. Dangerous as it may be, this is a voluntary commitment, especially to be Airborne. Most of these men and women take pride in what they do. The 21,000 troops planned doubles the request by the military's top brass, thus providing the tools to complete the mission. The plan was to coordinate with Iraqi military to retake the center of Bagdad, with American troops providing support. Probably much like the success in the Phillipines with American special forces working in conjuction with Phillipine troops to take down Abu-Sayyaf. But at the same time, this could prove to be a risky move. If we withdraw, will we regroup to go back or just sit tight and take pot shots from the Gulf?

J S, Fayetteville, NC (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:59 PM)

I have to admit...I cannot understand why anyone much less any democrat would want his autograph...if you sold it on Ebay...with his polls so low, you couldn't sell it! I do give him credit for acknowledging Nancy Pelosi..very gracious...And Mr Avery, the hero from NYC, were the best part of his speech!

Sandy (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 11:06 PM)

Kanye West should make another smart and knowledgable remark about Bush so he remembers he is not powerful enough to do this. Yes, he can command but could he do it all on his own?

Corey Jackson, Houston, Texas (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 11:07 PM)

Tucker, have you ever fought in a war? There must be a resolution that does not include the loss of so many more American lives. Let's engage the neighbors of Iraq in real dialogue. Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia...they have an interest in this mess, too. Let's solve the problem with people who understand the muslim psychi in the Arab world.

Gail ALbers, Woodstock, Illinois (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 11:07 PM)

Hey, Tucker: name the people and quote the sources in Congress who say we should withdraw from Iraq "immediately". The only people I've heard about who use that specific language are Republicans.

S. J. Romeo, Long Island, NY (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 11:14 PM)

Tucker, I believe the scramble for the Presidential autograph is standard procedure, check out some old tapes. The Mideast is in constant danger of "exploding", this is nothing we can stop or control. Bush created the current mess in the region, of course we have to do something. But what? I too am sick and tired of having my patriotism questioned by you and your ilk for opposing this war from the start. Redeploy to the Iraqi borders and secure them, that would be a good start. If we believe foreign fighters are interferring, how about stopping them? The current troop escalation plan, the fifth since the invasion, is nothing new and won't work any more than previous troop expansions. As a reporter, it is your job to disect and investigate and "argue with the message".

K Buoy, San Antonio, TX (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 11:15 PM)

Please think deep and hard about the following: 1. Overall, is the United States a better place to live now than it was four years ago? 2. Economically, have we made progress, stagnated or fallen behind? (occupations, national deficit, GNP, quality of life) 3. What strides and developments have we made in public education? The environment that surrounds us? 4. Is this country still a place where constitutional freedoms are freely practiced without fear of being shunned, punished or ridiculed? Where all voices count and can be equally heard, where we respect one another's beliefs, or at least right to believe? Are we still that country where the religious neutrality this country was founded on still exists and is championed? 5. What is the state of our foreign relations? Are we still respected, supported in alliance with a great number of prosperous countries? Are we just, legitimate and equitable in our treatment of other cultures, here and abroad? 6. Do we as a collective people feel that we've been governed and led with integrity and democracy? Do we feel we've been informed of facts, figures and options critical to our decisions dependably, lawfully and ethically? 7. What improvements have been made to the things that affect us as a vital culture? Arts, music, health care, youth programs, global connection, free expression, societal contributions. 8. As a result of current leadership, do we as a nation feel more united, or more divided? 9. Have our tax dollars been spent wisely, and with the greatest possible good/progress/impact/benefit in mind? I encourage you to come up with your own; you're welcome to share them here if you like. I ask only that you apply truly neutral, critical thought to the answers as you find them.

bergit (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 11:15 PM)

Yep, That's exactly what we'll be doing & we'll have another U.S.S. Cole incident. Only this time a ship will be sunk. I say we pack up in 90 days. And I don't want to hear whining about how long it took the U.S. to form it's government. We didn't have mass communication on the massive scale we can provide the Iraqi people with.

PLHeart (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 11:18 PM)

Alas, we the American people are still hostage to this President's delusion that U.S. intervention can still forstall the inevitable in Iraq. The resounding message sent by the Nov election did NOTHING. The only question that remains is how many more lives will be lost for naught before we are out of that morass. This president will not change his mind. The American people is strapped to this kamakaze plane piloted by Bush, and we are headed straight to oblivion. Our only chance to end this war before 2008 is for Congress to find the cajones to cut off funding for the war. I doubt there are enough congressmen and senators with that kind of courage. No, cutting off funding would mean we are not "supporting the troops". By this logic we should support all wars once our troops are deployed, and for as long as the Commander-in-chief wants to keep sending the troops? In reality bringing the troops home is the best way to support them at this point, and we shouldn't be seduced by the military's resistance. Their can-do attitude and patriotism are really beside the point. There is no longer a military solution, something the military is inherently unable to admit.

Leon Sendai, San Juan, Puerto Rico (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 11:22 PM)

All I can say is this. Bush has made the same mistake repeatedly over Iraq an has only deepened the mud our troops are in. He continually gets rid or ignores any opinion of the generals (or anyone else for that matter) on the ground. Sending more troops over there will not help, not now. It is far too late for that. He has what he actually wanted. A regime change, despite Saddam being one of our guys. THis is the only victory that we can get out of this war, or what history will eventually call a "police action". They hate us over there because we presume to have all the answers. Did anyone actually ask if they WANT a democracy? It is time to rethink this countries position in the world. And hey, heres an idea, why not attempt to take care of THIS countrys woes instead of someplace else for a change.

Pete Pepper, St Louis, Missouri (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 11:28 PM)

The middle east is a religious war and religious wars will NEVER be over. But as the POTUS, he was obliged to help, America has never turned it's back on someone who asked for help, ever, it is one of the traits America is based on, we are the big brother. The war will never be "over", but now there is a responsibility not to leave the people in such a state that another horrific dictator comes in and replaces the other. The POTUS may go down in history as an idiot, but had he not sent help he would have gone down as a coward. There are so many aspects to the war, oil, security, power, religion, etc., but please remember - they asked us for help, how could America then not go and help?

T, WA (Sent Tuesday, January 23, 2007 11:34 PM)

I just want to say that every American soldier that is over there, is over there because he/she wants to. They weren't drafted and they weren't forced. Why belittle their entire effort by so ardently opposing this war??? I just want to know how the soldiers feel who have to listen to all this negative media... I know they would benefit much, much more if we would just support their decision to fight for freedom and support the president's decision to keep them there. What happened to "United, we stand"? America is not united right now! I just wish that we could become the great nation that was created more than 200 years ago. A nation with morals and respect of it's authority. A nation that was "One nation, under God"!

Rebecca, CA (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 12:02 AM)

Bravo, I love President Bush and believe in him and what he is trying to accomplish. Let us not forget that 911 was real and Sadam was real and if Iraq explodes it will be here on our land that our soldiers and their families will die. How many of you would teach a toddler to walk and then just leave him to grow up on his own? And yes it is always wise to let the enemies know that we don't stand behind our President or our soldiers. God Bless Our President and Our Land!

Tina F. Warren Ma (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 12:04 AM)

We should get out. he has lied from the start. he started this war for millitary contracts and oil. Tucker u forget that the people that hit us were from Saudi not Iraq. How about you reporting the truth for a change.

jim mississippi (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 12:09 AM)

Why? Because wheither we leave next month or 10 years from now the result will be the same. Sunni and Shia will try to wipe out the other. There is NO military victory to be won because there is no standing army to defeat. You have two religious sects trying to wipe each other out. Why should any more americans give their lives to delay this civil war? This is a political problem only the Iraqies can solve.

T T, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 12:26 AM)

Hello! yes we should be one nation,united,so why dont you see be the light and remember that these men and women are DYING!~!!!!!!!Politics aside people died today because of our government!How come republicans dont support our troops?It seems to me that you dont care how many die as long as the us doesnt lose.That is ridiculous and misplaced loyalty.Support our troops! Bring them Home!

Marilee,Birmingham,Alabama (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 12:51 AM)

I believe the president of the U.S.A. stated that ("Weapons of Mass Destruction"), were the reason we went to war. Doesn't anyone remember.. HaHa, They LIED...and scared all the Grandmothers and Papas in the midwest into believing them. Propaganda works, and us Americans believe it, I suggest to anyone who can read, to really make a conscience effort in 2008 and vote for a person who can bring truth back to the office, not some Yahoo who can barely speak our own language, or some "woman" because she would be the first, not some old man, or a black man, or cute man, A person who can represent you and your idealogy. The problem with us is that we jump on the bandwagon to quick and we never look back.. It is time for us to be held accountable for who we put in office.

Kate (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 12:52 AM)

Yes, when we finally leave Iraq will fall into total chaos. The Sunni, Shia, and Kurds will rid themselves of someone else's nationalistic fantacy enclosed by arbitrary lines drawn by British Petroleum. Remember Saddam? We put him in power to suppress the smoldering fire of civil war. Why are we bewildered by the intrinsic strife?

Paul Harvey, Black Diamond, WA (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 1:01 AM)

If Bush would reallyy focus on alternative energy we would not have a military or political crissis i the Middle East

joe, Chicago, IL (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 1:01 AM)

We noticed that apparent hypocrisy too. It is so easy to start a war and so hard to end one. Wars never end until both sides reconcile. The Administration’s stance is not of negotiation and reconciliation. The fact is that "terrorists" have become synonymous with Muslims and Arabs. Why is that? The ideological differences need to be investigated and resolved quickly before our national treasury is completely in the pockets of V.P. Cheney's association of corporate interests. Is he serious when he says he can eliminate the national debt in five years without raising taxes? How can President Bush pretend that he wants to resolve domestic problems and support entitlements when he has done all he can to deplete our funding source for them? So far, this war has been initiated, continued, and surged on false intelligence from sources anxious to give him the justification he wanted. He continues to do all he can to expand the war to Iran and the whole Arabic Middle East. What makes anyone think that will change? There was a time when we were friends with Arabic nations. No amount of miltary action or preparedness produces safety like peace does.

Al & Barbara Williams, Oak Harbor, Washington (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 1:08 AM)

Are we sure the people of Iraq back the government that's in power there? are we forcing democracy on a country that prefers or at least choses to survive under a different form of government? I suggest there be a vote in Iraq on the hard questions. Do you want a Democracy, a monarchy, a dictatorship?Are you more invested in stepping up the plate personally and making this country work or is blowing up your neighbor and his children more important to you than your children's lives? If the answer is my priority is survival even if it means getting along, we (US, Britan, Japan, Germany, etc) help prop up the government for 6 months with everyone in Iraq knowing they have 6 mos to work hard and get their act together - extention to be negotiated only with substantive progress on all sides. Enough of the world supporting them so they can dedicate themselves to kill each other instead of working together

MM, New Jersey (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 2:07 PM)

The sunni ran iraq with torture murder,and imprisonment for quite a few years .Anyone who thinks the shia or the kurds will let them have anything to do with running the country again is an idiot.The sunni know that if the shia are running the country they will take revenge against them and they are quite opposed to that.These are natural human actions.Apparently there is not anyone in Washington that has any understanding of human nature.If they did they would have never gone into Iraq.We lost that war the day we crossed the Iraq border.

James Tait Asheville NC (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 3:24 PM)

Yes Tucker but people need to realize this is what happens when you LOSE A WAR!

Vincent, Los Angeles CA (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 3:26 PM)

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