Johnson Closing Speech on Emergency War Supplemental

JaJae · 03-25-2007, 11:54 AM

This is the closing speech to the Emergency War Supplemental. It's being touted all over as a must see speech. Whether you agree with it or not it's a very interesting speech and at the end you can hear the Republicans going nuts cheering and chanting "peanuts." Peanuts of course would be reference to throwing in supplementals for peanut storage to buy votes.

The speech is about 10 minutes long, but it is an interesting one. He says a lot of things I disagree with and a lot of things I do disagree with. I think from a viewer standpoint it's all the same things we've hashed out on this forum already. I think the most interesting part is how involved the Republicans were getting during this speech and the Democrats sitting there respectfully quiet and calm.

It shows exactly how polarized our government has become. And it shows a switch since the Democrats took power. The GOP is now holding the Democrats responsible for their pork, blunders and unethical bills. The minority attacking the majority. It's more of the same in regards to saying this bill doesn't support our troops, it's a prescription for failure, etc. All the things you'd expect to hear from a Republican about this bill. But more than that it says a lot about the needs of our troops, what this bill is and what it says to our troops and the world. The Republicans were giving him a standing ovation throughout the speech and at the end they couldn't contain themselves from going into an immature scolding rant screaming "peanuts" before finally giving one huge final ovation. There's a lot you can find in this video to fault the conduct of the GOP. The Democrats appeared to be completely respectful, even during the taunting.

I don't agree with everything he said, but I definitely agree with the fact that he made a speech like this and spoke his mind freely on such a touchy political issue with no regard to being PC. It's refreshing and while I disagree with a lot the rhetoric I've gained some respect for him after this speech.

Ok, I'll stop ranting... here's the clip:

YouTube Video

BTW, this is also the clip of where Johnson scolds Murtha on what it means to be a marine. That story is going on around the blogosphere. You'll catch that at the end.

Thorgrim · 03-25-2007, 12:48 PM

Yeah he did the same partisan junk during the non-binding resolution and every other iraq/military issue where the GOP votes one way, they always put him up as their last speaker and give him a huge round of applause

He wants to be the old war horse the GOP trots out to hide behind everytime, thats politics, but anyone who looks into it knows he's far far right and he's one of the most partisan right-wingers in Congress

I don't know whose vote "bought" by the peanut measure...do you? The Democrats in Georgia's delegation were either safe-liberals who didn't need any money to vote for it, or voted against it

Also, the "peanut" part was simply a continuation of federal policy, it wasn't a new program

For the record, his speech against the non-binding resolution was better IMO and it made its way around the blogs and no one cared...same here...the Democratic position is simpy too popular

Pro Street · 03-25-2007, 12:54 PM

during the debates, the GOP argued against the deadline, and barely mentioned the pork.

kinggovernor · 03-25-2007, 12:57 PM

we don't need 435 generals PERFECT

Scrum · 03-25-2007, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

we don't need 435 generals PERFECT

They should just cut checks to the Military and never question what's happening. Isn't that congress's job?

Pro Street · 03-25-2007, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

we don't need 435 generals PERFECT

nope, just replace them everytime they don't agree with Bush

grembert · 03-25-2007, 02:14 PM

Survey after survey, taken across the country, show that the majority of Americans want some kind of a time-table for an Iraq withdrawal. More than anything else ( pork, individual Congress members, generals ), that is the driving force behind this war bill.

kinggovernor · 03-25-2007, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by Pro Street

nope, just replace them everytime they don't agree with Bush

sure worked for lincoln

kinggovernor · 03-25-2007, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by grembert

Survey after survey, taken across the country, show that the majority of Americans want some kind of a time-table for an Iraq withdrawal. More than anything else ( pork, individual Congress members, generals ), that is the driving force behind this war bill.

the average American knows nothing about combat

kinggovernor · 03-25-2007, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by Scrum

They should just cut checks to the Military and never question what's happening. Isn't that congress's job?

many people thought Iwo Jima was too costly at the time of the battle, now it is remebered as one of the greatest military victories in our history

RMNIXON · 03-25-2007, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by Scrum

They should just cut checks to the Military and never question what's happening. Isn't that congress's job?

They should give the military the funding to do the job it has been tasked to do by legal authority or not fund it. They have plenty of oversite about what is being requested and why. That has nothing to do with the loaded pork politics of this bill. They can only refuse to fund policy, not make policy with funding games. That is what they are trying to do and it is not responcible behavior period.

Roonie · 03-25-2007, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

the average American knows nothing about combat

I am super skilled with num chucks.

RMNIXON · 03-25-2007, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

many people thought Iwo Jima was too costly at the time of the battle, now it is remebered as one of the greatest military victories in our history

Did you see Flags of our Fathers? I had no idea how desperate we were for more money to fund the war effort. And now we bitch if gas is half the price of Europe!

Diamond Cross · 03-25-2007, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

the average American knows nothing about combat

Doesn't matter.

Scrum · 03-25-2007, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

many people thought Iwo Jima was too costly at the time of the battle, now it is remebered as one of the greatest military victories in our history

You really want to start comparing the war in Iraq to WWII?

Scrum · 03-25-2007, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

They should give the military the funding to do the job it has been tasked to do by legal authority or not fund it. They have plenty of oversite about what is being requested and why. That has nothing to do with the loaded pork politics of this bill. They can only refuse to fund policy, not make policy with funding games. That is what they are trying to do and it is not responcible behavior period.

They hold the purse strings. If Bush cares about the troops he will play ball with congress.

kinggovernor · 03-25-2007, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by Scrum

You really want to start comparing the war in Iraq to WWII?

no but my point is that the american public and congress don't understand combat

kinggovernor · 03-25-2007, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by Diamond Cross

Doesn't matter.

yes it does when they could undermine the mission

grembert · 03-25-2007, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

no but my point is that the american public and congress don't understand combat

I agree with this, but Bush doesn't seem to understand much about the ethnic and religious make-up of Iraq, or show many diplomatic skills in dealing with Iran or North Korea - so it time to bring in new viewpoints and approaches.

thomez · 03-25-2007, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor