Leaked Letter Reveals GOP Strategy (Iraq Debate)

[VolcanoJen]

I think this is pretty damning... just posted on Josh Marshall's Talking Points Memo site.

Leaked Letter Reveals GOP Strategy: Talk About Anything But Escalation

Majority Leader Hoyer's office has posted a .pdf file of the leaked memo here.

Here is the section of the letter , titled "Iraq: Their Terms Or Ours?" sent to GOP members by Reps. John Shadegg and Peter Hoekstra, which Greg Sargent of TPM chose to highlight. Please read the entire text to be even further shocked.

Excerpt:

We are writing to urge you not to debate the Democratic Iraq resolution on their terms, but rather on ours.

Democrats want to force us to focus on defending the surge, making the case that it will work and explaining why the President's new Iraq policy is different from prior efforts and therefore justified.

We urge you to instead broaden the debate to the threat posed to Americans, the world, and all "unbelievers" by radical Islamists. We would further urge you to join us in educating the American people about the views of radical Islamists and the consequences of not defeating radical Islam in Iraq.

The debate should not be about the surge or its details. This debate should not even be about the Iraq war to date, mistakes that have been made, or whether we can, or cannot, win militarily. If we let Democrats force us into a debate on the surge or the current situation in Iraq, we lose.

[proud patriot]

1. what weak weasles they are

x(

[Roy Eidelson]

2. Over and Over and Over Again

This is another example of the Republicans' strategy of "staying on message," which has proven tragically effective in recent years regarding the war in Iraq. As the President himself once said: "See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda"
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/2005052 ... ).

[newyawker99]

48. Hi Roy Eidelson!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[emulatorloo]

3. Why are the Republicans so invested in protecting Bushco?

It defies logic.

He is an albatross to them.

The Iraq war is a disaster. It is feeding the movement that they claim to be so concerned about in the letter.

Why are they protecting Bushco.

[indepat]

11. Power, greed, punishment and reward for 'pukes, IMNSHO, would rather have a dictator of their own

cloth, no matter how disastrous, no matter how calamitous, no matter how ruinous, rather than a constitutional president of the other party. It's simply a war on this once-Republic and the American people not supporters: they are all traitorous to American founding principles, again IMNSHO.

[blm]

13. Because Bushco IS the crime network they're all connected to at this point.

They would have all been better off staying Goldwater Republicans and Rockefeller Republicans. Now they are a crime family completed invested with BushInc.

[aquart]

40. And really nervous about going to jail.

[liberaldemocrat7]

44. I call them the GOPranos

and I have GOPranos t shirts for sale LOL

[blm]

45. heheh....how did I miss that one?

That is really good.

[C_U_L8R]

4. oh so NOW it's a war against islam

will these flipflopping jabberwockin repukifying reichwingers ever make up their mind ?

[aquart]

41. Terra! Terra! Terra!

They're admitting all they have is fear.

[me b zola]

5. OMG, the money quote:

If we let Democrats force us into a debate on the surge or the current situation in Iraq, we lose.

:smoke:

[VolcanoJen]

6. Isn't it staggering?

This isn't about winning or losing the war to them. It's not about developing a strategy to bring our soldiers home while minimizing the chaos that will ensue whether we stay or go.

It's about saving face, being re-elected in their districts. They are an affront to the reality-based community, and they are instructing each other to further deceive the American people about this war.

[me b zola]

28. I think it is a stunning--and damning--multi-facited admission

There is the truth that you point out and there is also their admission that we are right about Iraq/Iraq policy, and they are so wrong that they would lose if we debated it.

Stunning. Dems should use this to smack around the Publicans every chance they get airtime.

[VolcanoJen]

36. Absolutely

This is our entire argument all wrapped up in a neat little leaked memo.

I'd like to see this brought up in tomorrow's continuing House debate. Since Hoyer posted it on his own site, I'm encouraged.

[rhombus]

7. And Repulicans claim they are for the troops??? Really???

They don't give a damn about our troops in Iraq. Period. Everything is politics to the Republican party. GOP before the People. Always.

:puke:

[leftofthedial]

8. it should be a crime to be a repuke

they are far more harmful to America and Americans than any other class of criminal.

[VolcanoJen]

9. It's a War on Reality

Read the memo, and it's crystal-clear.

"Don't talk about the details... talk about hysteria. The debate isn't about Iraq, and it's definitely not about how we got there. The debate isn't about mistkes. It's about whether we want to be winners or losers."

It's frightening. It really is.

[AlCzervik]

10. how many times have their memos been sent to the wrong people now?

remember the Mel Martinez flap over a Schaivo memo?

and no Gop, you can't have the debate on your terms----no, not yours.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

12. What a bunch of sick, murdering bastards!

But we knew that already.

I just hope one good thing comes out of these traitors' Iraq war: the end of the Republic Party for the next 300 or so years.

[femrap]

14. This should be splattered across all

newspaper's headlines tomorrow. Our pathetic leaders....they care nothing for the troops...NOTHING.

[TahitiNut]

15. Screw Iraqis!! Screw the troops! Screw America! It's all about protecting the GOP!!!

Why am I not surprised? Why do I object when people say Impeachment will "hurt Democrats"???

Can partisan corruption get more rotten and pervasive??

[H2O Man]

17. True.

Sad but true, that is what it comes down to. They do not care about the human suffering that they cause. It's all about political power and the dollar for these people.

[TahitiNut]

18. Hey!!

Quit hoarding all the hearts! :evilgrin:

(Even if you deserve 'em.) :hi:

[jefferson_dem]

16. Well well well...

I did find it striking that just about every knuckle-dragger that took to the podium today mumbled "radical islamists" "jihadists"...blah blah blah ... Now we know the tps were delivered and the myrmidons follow the lock-step orders.

[Contrary1]

19. I have searched Hoyer's site...

I cannot find a copy of this letter there. Maybe someone else can find it? :shrug:

http://majorityleader.house.gov

[Cocoa]

20. here

http://majorityleader.house.gov/docUploads/ShadeggHoekstraDearColleague.pdf

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

22. Check the OP. The link is there, it's a pdf file.

Just when I thought the Pukes couldn't go any lower, they do....

Disgusting but why is anyone surprised??

[Contrary1]

23. I did see it on the link from the OP...

but; I was checking at Hoyer's site. I can't find it there.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

21. It wouldn't appear they could win on ANY ot those talking points.

:shrug:

[malaise]

24. One of the Dems should read it

out loud in the House.

[librechik]

35. that would be so awesome

the dems should be relentless about bringing the debate back to the war, no matter how they struggle.

[Felinity]

42. My suggestion, as well

Please see other thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3112248&mesg_id=3112901

[LSK]

25. basically, its always about spin and winning the political battle with these guys

Nevermind real policy and doing the right thing.

:grr:

[Straight Shooter]

26. Now we know what Bill O'Reilly means when he asks, "Do you want us to WIN?"

Remember that question in David Letterman's face? Yet O'Reilly never defined what it means to "win."

Well, now we know. The definition of winning to a Repub is that they must never be held accountable or justify anything they've done, no matter how disastrous, no matter the cost in blood or to society in general. To admit their complicity, to correct the wrongs, they believe weakens them, and erodes their power.

Lust for power is the true root of all evil.

[jannyk]

27. I suggest we email this back to them

all- every GOP member, and the media. Let them know they are totally exposed as the sycophantic apologists they are.
They make me physically sick
:puke:

[derby378]

29. The Repukes know the game is up, and that gives me a warm feeling inside

:bounce:

[stevedeshazer]

30. I could not agree more.

Love you and your post.

[OnyxCollie]

31. Terra! Terra! Terra! Be Afraid!

I could only watch for a few minutes before I had to change the channel. I couldn't stand to hear that asshole Hoekstra and the rest of the republics spew their empty rhetoric.

[jannyk]

32. kick

[Supersedeas]

33. Patrick McHenry has his marching orders--What about Coble and Walt Jones?

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

34. This proves the GOP has lost all integrity...

...ROFLMFAO. (I couldn't figure out a more succinct statement to make)

:rofl:

[Robbien]

37. GOP: "in a debate on the surge or the current situation in Iraq, we lose"

But they think they win if they talk instead about a going on a Christian Crusade against Muslims?

What a wacky world.

[cooolandrew]

38. Good stuff =)

[jannyk]

39. Kick - so we can all read it before debate n/t

[VolcanoJen]

43. Kick... let's hope this comes out in today's House debate

:dem:

[Generator]

46. Of course not, the debate is about fear and lies

as always. They lie, we cower.

[KansDem]

47. And yet, people are dying every day...

...while this bullshit goes on living.

They have no shame.