June 27, 2007 - 11:34am
Congressman says Lugar’s Iraq statement significant
By Max PizarroWrite down the date, says Rep. Donald Payne: June 25, 2007.
That’s when U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar made remarks on the floor of the Senate urging President George W. Bush to change course in Iraq.
"In my judgment, the costs and risks of continuing down the current path outweigh the potential benefits that might be achieved," Lugar said on the Senate floor. "Persisting indefinitely with the surge strategy will delay policy adjustments that have a better chance of protecting our vital interests over the long term."
Payne said the statement made by the high-ranking Republican and foreign policy expert would likely pressure other GOP Congress people to cross party lines to join Democrats who want to end the war.
"It’s going to make a big difference," Payne said of Lugar’s remarks. "To me his statement was quite significant."
Payne said he voted against giving the President the authority to go to war in Iraq in 2002 because he was never convinced Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction.
Contributors
Wally Edge
Biotech millionaire John Crowley is seriously considering bid for the Republican nomination for Governor in 2009 – although some GOP leaders ... >
Bob Torricelli
The Record announced yesterday that it was closing its Hackensack offices and "reinventing"itself. It was actually announcing its own ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
NJ STARS, while failing in its intended purpose, nonetheless demonstrates the need for fundamental reform in NJ's high schools. >
Debbie Holtz
Another fiscal-cutting measure still lies on the Governor's desk -- it's the one that reduces spending by way of statutory tweaks to the ... >
Steve Lonegan
The 2009 New Jersey State Budget is not the stunning tribute to sound fiscal policy The Trenton insiders would have you believe, but just a ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
The budget proposed by Gov. Jon Corzine has produced myriad negative reactions, featuring various interests seeking to limit the impact of the cuts ... >
Rob Tornoe
Michael P. Riccards
Recently, I walked into a large movie theatre with my wife Barbara to see "Sex and the City," the long, long rendition of themes that ... >
Carla Katz
As the Presidential election draws closer and closer, we tend to focus our attention on the daily horse race between the candidates and lose sight of ... >
Top Tags
Most Active Stories
- Torricelli on The (Bergen) Record
- Jackson likes Obama-Biden
- Is Murphy on the short list to be Crowley's L.G.?
- A thumbnail New Jersey guide to the history of Obamaland, Part II
- Corzine and Christie meet on the campaign trail
- Obama state director choice comes down to Decheine, Mueller and Chicago
- O'Toole assumes lead role of GOP chairmen
- Is this Kyrillos' last term?
- Is Bret Schundler the next Thomas F.X. Smith?
- Garrett consultant hits back on lobbyist staffers
- Dr. Bones goes to Washington
- PoliticsNJ.com Power List 2007
- Eleven arrested in bribery scandal
- Lyndhurst GOP, nearly all of them, switching parties
- Lobbyist arrested
- Governor Paralysis
- Who is the best State Party Chairman in New Jersey
- KYRILLOS, BECK, KEAN & HANDLIN VOW WORK TO KEEP SEASTREAK FERRY UP AND RUNNING
- Torricelli on COAH
- Two N.J. super delegates go to Obama; Norcross backs Obama; key Clinton supporters endorse Obama
Quote of the Day
July 4, 2008
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."
-Declaration of Independence, 07/04/1776
Recent Press Releases
- Jul 4 2008
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Bob Torricelli is Mad at the Big, 'Mean' Bergen Record― THE MEDIA MOB
Sweeney-Buono alliance shakes up N.J. Senate― JONATHAN TAMARI
Stile: Pay to play helped to quell party insurgents ― CHARLES STILE
Newark’s Mayor Cory Booker at Midpoint ― DICK BENFIELD
MUCHAS MARGARITAS― ANDY UNANUE
NJ Economic Growth chief leaves office― Gary Rose
Candidates spend plenty of their money― Philadelphia Inquirer
News anchor sizing up run for governor― Star-Ledger
Political parties get right down to business― Daily Record
Ex-city official should give all of it back― Star-Ledger
PolitickerNJ.com Jobs
Syndicate
Paynetics NJ?
Our Donald and his extended family are getting A LOT of play on here lately. I can't wait for the 2008 primary lol.
Maybe significant
Sen. Lugar's statements are significant to the degree that they help intitiate a change in policy in Iraq and resonate with other sensible Republican senators. Lugar and Voinovich, the other R senator who called for troop withdrawal yesterday, both originally voted against the war and have generally been following the president lock-and-step in his failed foreign policy intitiatives. One could argue that, though it is meaningful that they are criticizing the war now and calling for withdrawal, that they are doing too little, too late.
Iraq statement notwithstanding ...
I always found "Dick Lugar" to be one of the truly magnificent names in politics. It has the ring of a Mickey Spillane detective ... or an Arnold Swartzeneggar action hero ... or, for that matter, possibly even a German porn star ... take your pick.
As for Payne, he could have ensured a dynasty for at least the next couple of generations if he had named his heir Maxwell -- tell me you'd want to run against or double-cross a guy named "Max Payne" -- I don't think so.
Trooper
Has that trooper been charged yet?
Lugar?
Lugar? Wasn't that the name of the Nazi pistol in WWII?
Anyway "continuing down the current path outweigh the potential benefits that might be achieved," he will probably be dead when Iraq becomes what we all hope and pray for will be in the future as Lugar is part of the past and not of the future so I can see why he can't see past his nose on this subject.
My suggestion is to fade into the sunset and RETIRE and get out of the way for the future because no one will remember you when Iraq becomes part of the new and modern 21st century middle east from the help of many brave soldiers that are there now to help accomplish that end.
Senator Lugar
A) The gun you were talking about is spelt Luger, not Lugar.
B)Senator Lugar is the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, making him one of the most respected voices on the Right. Especially because he's fairly conservative on mmost issues.
C) As a Dem, it's nice to hear some sense coming from that side of the isle. I agree that a sudden and complete withdrawl would be the worst case scenario for both Iraq, as well as the United States, but the plan is plain not working.
MadMax, I'm sure he'll take
MadMax, I'm sure he'll take your advice... NOT! He is obviously an intelligent person and very well respected. Anyway, it seems more likely that he will be remembered, while you will not. Senator Lugar has been loyal to his party, but he realizes now as an idividual that things have been executed beyond poorly concerning Iraq. People in the GOP have been hesitant to cross their party, but as more people realize that they will have to answer to their constituencies, they will come out and be more willing to disagree with their parties. I'm sorry if i sound a bit harsh, MadMax... but just be easy with those stones that you cast becuase they can come back at you.