Sen. Pryor, apparently desperate to flip-flop from his March 15th vote opposing a timetable for US withdrawal from Iraq, has come up with an idea so wacky that one is tempted to think he stole it from Sen. Arlen Spector:
The Arkansas Democrat is a key holdout on his party’s proposal to approve $122 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan while setting a goal of March 31, 2008, for winding up military operations in Iraq. Unlike the plan’s Republican opponents, Pryor wants a withdrawal deadline of some kind. He just doesn’t want anyone outside the White House, Congress and the Iraqi government to know what it is.
(The Washington Post here ignores that Pryor voted against a timetable earlier this month. But I digress.)
Yes, a “classified” timetable. Because Congress never leaks top-secret info. Certainly not of classified briefings on military operations. Congress is water-tight. Just ask former Sen. Bob Torricelli and Sen. Orrin Hatch. Or Senators Rockefeller, Durbin and Wyden. Or Senators Lugar and Kerry. Or—of course—Sen. Patrick Leahy.
“I’ve had a number of [Democrats] ask me why . . . but after I explain it they do understand where I’m coming from,” Pryor said.
Yes—from Arkansas, Land of Triangulation.
Far be it from the Washington Post story to use the word “leak” in this story, instead burying this bit of euphemism:
But some experts question the possibility of keeping what would essentially be the entire Iraq war plan under wraps.
You think?
That’s still better than The New York Times, which mentions Pryor’s proposal in passing with no reporting on its lack of realism. The NYT does mention he’s running for re-election next year, however.
So the people of Iraq are now on double secret probation?
And they’d better behave or this is going on their permanent record.
Kinda OT -Has the other Dem Senator who had a stroke come back to Congress yet? Has he even had a public appearance? Is he able to serve his state?
Actually, from the reading of this, I gain the impression that the Senator involved was in the throes of a massive stroke during the interview.
According to Minnesota Public Radio, as of two weeks ago, Senator Johnson is still undergoing therapy, which is likely to continue for several months. They say his cognitive abilities are in good shape, though he still has a lot of work to do on his speaking abilities.
Which, come to think of it, makes him the perfect antithesis of the Democratic Senator archetype.
I understand. Totally. Ever since I repositioned my brain to Okinawa I’ve done my best work from there…
BRILLIANT!
Secret? Jeebus! Can anyone even imagine the people that elected this guy?
(Full disclosure – I am from CT where Chris Dodd is a shoe-in for every election. I guess I can imagine the people who elected this guy – unfortunately.)
Me: Hello, my name’s Blue Hen
audience: Hi Blue Hen
Me: And I’m a Delawarean (slowly, as if confessing guilt)
audience: (muffled mutterings of sympathy and encouragement).
Me: I realize that we’re responsible for Joe Biden
audience: (change to muffled death threats)
Me: But I’m not personally responsible. In fact, I can’t find anyone who will admit that they did, even Democrats. His support seems to come from nowhere.
audience1: Like his hair.
audience2: Or his speeches.
audience3: No, those came from Neil Kinnock.
Well, If someone could keep the info away from the White House, Congress, and the Iraqi government then the insurgents would have a hard time figuring out the withdraw date.
It’s doable.
If they tell it to Richard Armitage, no one will ever find out.
Except, you know, the press.