Imagine this response from Pete: Then censure me!!! I stand by my original statement!

[RiverStone]

Are there not some things (or statements) in life worth being censured for?

Easy for me to play armchair quarterback when my job is not on the line, but imagine how Pete Stark would be received if he told the House and/or Party leadership that he refused to apologize!

Just imagine if he said instead...

"I stand by my original statement, censure me if you will!"

If that reality happened, I'm not sure what the political ramifications or the employment ramifications would have been. What I do know is a refusal to comply would have elevated Pete to folk hero status on DU. If he lost his job over it, he would be a standard bearer for the force against the complicit and the enablers. In fact, he may have been able to write a new job ticket for something even grander?

His actions would have served to inspire more than any apology has served to fix something.

Pete could have stood for something amazing; instead he apologized in tears.

What a lost opportunity.

Imagine if he simply said with confidence and resolution THEN CENSURE ME! :think:

[civildisoBDence]

1. Support for Stark was nearly unanimous here...but even he admits he was wrong

To say Bush is amused by our soldiers' deaths is blatantly, brazenly, patently wrong. Why did virtually no one here agree with that? Are we that extreme and unreasonable? Do we abandon critical thinking when we embrace a common and justified condemnation of Bush and this unnecessary, unjust, unwinnable war?

Newsprism

[Spazito]

2. Two examples I can think of that point to bush's propensity to find

death and destruction "amusing":

His "amusing" imitation of Karla Faye Tucker when he said "Please don't kill me" and

His "amusing" performance at the Press dinner when he did the 'where are those WMD's' while searching his office, this little 'comedy' skit having taken place AFTER US troops and Iraqis had already died.

Both of those examples are certainly indicative of a perverted sense of humor, imo, one of which relates directly to the death of troops in Iraq.

[RiverStone]

3. Its the war thats blatantly, brazenly, patently wrong....not Stark

If Stark has listened to his constituents rather then our wobbly knee Dem leaders, then an apology would not have been forthcoming.

At most, he may have retracted the wording but not the intent. Pete's apology did not embrace the original reason why he said what he did. That even more than Shrub's amusement, this war is a war for power and profit.

He could have still claimed ownership for what he meant, even if he insulted a few in the process.

We are desperate for someone, ANYONE with the guts to end the madness. ANYONE willing to challenge the Idiot in Chief who will stop at nothing to maintain the illusion of power.

For a glimmer of a second, Pete did just that!

[PassingFair]

4. "To say Bush is amused....."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKX6luiMINQ

The sniggering King IS amused...

[Richard Steele]

5. Because most of us disagree with your opinion that the statement was incorrect.

There's far more evidence to suggest that the statement was accurate
than evidence to the contrary.

[DearAbby]

6. I don't have to agree with Stark TO DEFEND HIS RIGHT TO SAY IT

Each one of us has the right of free speech, where in that does it say...only if it doesn't offend someone? Mr Stark has the right to his opinion and speech, I don't have to agree with it, but will defend his rights, thus defending my rights.

What this congress is doing is stifling dissent, condemning people for speaking out. Moveon.org, now Stark. Only speak of the party position. Its fascism