notified me that Dick Durbin has publicly apologozed.
. When I first saw the video, I thought, just like
.
. However, after reading a more thorough account of his apology, the apology does seem genuine.
This is not really an apolgy.
However, at one point he does fess up and realize just how morally depraved his remarks were.
and others who I'm sure will say this is insincere. I, for one, cannot judge sincerity. Given that judging sincerity is very difficult at best and more than likely impossible, my personal preference is to
that a person is sincere. I have no idea, as
, whether or not he apologizes simply to get fellow Democrats off his back.
Further, iff Durbin is sincere or not is not important to me. What was offensive was not whether or not he actually believed his disgusting analogy, but rather that his made the analogy.
A lot of great points made below in the comments section and also by checking the fatwas issued below. Michelle Malkin also has a good roundup.
1
Here is my problem with all this, we all know he actually meant it. The moonbats braying him on meant it. These people hate America, it's military and all it stands for. The Senator's remarks were not the product of an extemporaneous outburst, no it was prepared text given as a Senate floor speech. For that there can be no forgiveness, a Senator, especially one in a leadership post should have better sense than do this -- especially when we are at war with an enemy sworn to our destruction.
All that is left to do is for Sen. Durbin to go have a quite talk with Trent Lott and ask him the best way to resign his leadership post. What Sen. Durbin did is far more egregious than Lott's off hand remark at an after hours social gathering, Sen. Durbin slandered the U.S. military, gave aid and comfort to the enemy -- all from the floor of the U.S. Senate. For that, he does not deserve to be called a leader.
Posted by: 10ksnooker at June 21, 2005 07:07 PM (7evkT)
2
Well, you and I disagree for a rare instance, Rusty, but it's not going to get me jumping up and down. For Durbin's sake, I hope he's sincere and just incompetent at writing a speech. However, what I read and hear from his speech is a carefully worded statement that only apologizes to the offended for their being offended, and not an admission that he was just flat-out wrong.
But hey, YMMV. No biggie if we wind up with divergent opinions.
Posted by: Captain Ed at June 21, 2005 07:22 PM (bd8R+)
3
Rusty, I do not think it was sincere in that he is sorry for comparing our military to nazis and terrorists to jews being slaughtered in gas chambers. I think he realized the tide had turned and he is doing what a good pol does, save his bacon (see my post below). You are a good person and wish the best of people. Sad to say, you are the exception.
http://strata-sphere.com/blog/index.php/archives/196
Cheers.
Posted by: AJStrata at June 21, 2005 07:51 PM (67DAA)
4
I'm the forgiving type usually too. I'll accept an apology and simply never trust the person again. In this case, I honestly don't think he sees the error in his way. I wonder who "really" held his feet to the fire. I don't think it was the bloggers or the outraged public in general. "Someone" got to him and demanded it. Someone he knew he'd better listen to.
Posted by: Oyster at June 21, 2005 07:56 PM (YudAC)
5
Richard Daley, Oyster. He called Durbin's remarks a "disgrace" about three hours before his Senate-floor apology.
Posted by: Captain Ed at June 21, 2005 07:59 PM (bd8R+)
6
Not good enough. I want this SOB run out of town on a rail, though I'd prefer to see charges of giving aid and comfort to the enemy, or sedition. Even better, I'd like for him to write letters by hand apologising to every member of the US military, Gulag survivors, Nazi concentration camp survivors, Cambodians, etc. He is an opportunistic scumbag who is perfectly representational of the leftards. I hate them all. A good leftard is a dead leftard.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at June 21, 2005 08:37 PM (0yYS2)
7
I appreciate the link Rusty.
Posted by: Buckley F. Williams at June 21, 2005 08:50 PM (O2fD/)
8
I just watched (on C-SPAN) Durbin apologize on the Senate floor for comparing GITMO to NAZI, Soviet and POL POT death camps. He was choked up - TRULY NEAR TEARS (like Voinovich!), and I think he understands he crossed the line, and has learned his lesson. GOOD.
Now he must RESIGN FROM LEADERSHIP.
After all, Trent Lott APOLOGIZED FOUR TIMES, AND THEN STILL HAD TO RESIGN AS LEADER.
If Durbin fails to resign, it tarnishes the entire Democrat Party.
Posted by: reliapundit at June 21, 2005 09:08 PM (nlWFp)
9
To late ... been tarnished for years.
Posted by: Jonathan at June 21, 2005 09:11 PM (wdVtc)
10
Apology accepted. Now let him make his point in a way that we can take seriously.
Posted by: Carlos at June 21, 2005 10:08 PM (UWO6N)
11
I hope this idiot realizes that his comments be used to will fan the flames of terrorism for another year at least, and will be quoted by our enemies long after he has gone. This is a crime no less than high treason.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at June 21, 2005 10:44 PM (0yYS2)
12
Was he near Tears?
You know who else cries on TV, for profit? Actors.
You know who else cries in America? The children and Widows of the fallen soldiers, soldiers this asshat comments dishonors.
I say no retreat, no surrender, you barked for this guys blood for days, now he's stretched out his jugular.
No apology would serve us best, than one made right after a resignation speech.
Posted by: dave at June 22, 2005 12:17 AM (fsJ2z)
13
Rusty:
So, save a cookie for Dick Durbin.
Durbin has apologized. I'm with Chris Short and Citizen Smash on this. I accept the apology at face value. Now let us see him try and undo all the damage that has been done.
Call me depraved, but I guess I don't care that much whether an asshole like Durbin issues a sincere or an insincere apology. It's like Tyson apologizing for biting off a guy's ear. "Yeah, that's great Mike. But you're a Neanderthal poopyhead, so I guess you've stepped up to being a sincere Neanderthal poopyhead. Here, have a cookie."
I'll save a cookie for Dick Durbin. But should he remain a Senator of the United States? Definitely not. He ought to be recalled for gross incompetence, simple as that.
As for his ever undoing the damage he's done, that's just impossible. There's a difference between tension and compression. If you pull on a tension member until it breaks you don't shove the pieces back together expecting to mend things. Physics doesn't work like that, nor does anything else. The only way to fix things is to get someone into that office who won't make those kinds of assinine mistakes. And the object lesson is important too, to innoculate the next office holder.
If the member of his Senate District had any moral clarity they'd simply recall him, and put someone else in the position. There's really no other coherent alternative. In the wake of the recall Durbin could probably have a perfectly fine law career or something, but he wouldn't be in a position to cost any more American lives.
Posted by: Demosophist at June 22, 2005 12:32 AM (FVRfJ)
14
Discombobulus,
Nothing fans the flames higher for terrorism than the McChimpy Crusade. McChimpyism brings forth jihadis from the deserts and weird people like you with rattle brains are too goofy to realize it. It is iberian hamster blowback.
Posted by: BUSH LIES - SOLDIERS DIE at June 22, 2005 02:58 AM (FV4oJ)
15
I rike Bush Ries - Sordiers Die, he is my pran!
Posted by: Kim Jong Il at June 22, 2005 03:09 AM (Kr6/f)
16
A whole bunch of people are waking up to McChimpy's big lie and demanding an end to his bloody wars. Cop cars are carrying opium in Afghanistan so that it can be sold to you. Bin Laden is a free bird in the tribal zone and the Iraqi troops McChimpy trained are singing odes to Saddam. Time to cut the cash flow and shut down McChimpy's sluaterhouse circus.
Posted by: BUSH LIES - SOLDIERS DIE at June 22, 2005 03:11 AM (FV4oJ)
17
Kim Jong Il - you are a loser.
Discombobulus - you are trwason
Posted by: BUSH LIES - SOLDIERS DIE at June 22, 2005 03:42 AM (FV4oJ)
18
Kim Jong Il - you are a loser.
Discombobulus - you are trwason.
Posted by: BUSH LIES - SOLDIERS DIE at June 22, 2005 03:42 AM (FV4oJ)
19
Bushwhatever,
I'm getting sick of your goddamned insults. You are the rattlebrain fool, along with Psycho Piggamus Maxassus. You are a commie and Piggamus is a stocking full of smaeely dung marbles.
Posted by: Downing Street Memo at June 22, 2005 06:39 AM (ScqM8)
20
I immediately tune out any apology that starts "I apologize if ...". That is not an apology, since it is (1) conditional upon (2) another's feelings. I expound at some length on this on my blog.
Posted by: Rufus McDoofus at June 22, 2005 07:27 AM (a+Nj7)
Posted by: Oyster at June 22, 2005 07:38 AM (YudAC)
22
I'm with Rusty the man did apoligize and it does seem sincere. I'll accept that. And I'm glad he did it. He gets a smidgen of respect from me for it.
But there are a few more things I would like to see from DICK to get me to stop typing his name that way. It would be nice it I get a response from his office on my little question. Heck a form letter is OK with me. Also since he stuck his nose in it he could try and do some positive work in the area.
We should ackowlege his apology but I don't think we should let up the heat. Because we have men and women out there and....
"They're the best"
Yep that's exactly why Mr. Durbin.
Posted by: Howie at June 22, 2005 08:40 AM (D3+20)
23
"Nothing fans the flames higher for terrorism than the McChimpy Crusade."
Does it come with fries?
"McChimpyism brings forth jihadis from the deserts and weird people like you with rattle brains are too goofy to realize it. It is iberian hamster blowback."
Other than a giggle I have nothing to say to that. Sheer genius. Or madness. Or genius. Or madness.
"A whole bunch of people are waking up to McChimpy's big lie and demanding an end to his bloody wars."
Of course they are dear. And they all live in your head.
"Cop cars are carrying opium in Afghanistan so that it can be sold to you."
Well isn't that mighty nice of them?
"Bin Laden is a free bird in the tribal zone and the Iraqi troops McChimpy trained are singing odes to Saddam."
What a wonderful world you live in.
"Time to cut the cash flow and shut down McChimpy's sluaterhouse circus."
Can I buy tickets to this "slauterhouse" circus? Will there be elephants maiming clowns? That would rock.
"Kim Jong Il - you are a loser."
Tsk tsk little one, mustn't be nasty or it's a spanking for you.
"Discombobulus - you are trwason"
Dude, I almost did a spit take on that one, though I managed not to, I still shot hot coffee up my nose. You're a goddamned comic genius. Hey, are you Mel Brooks?
"I'm getting sick of your goddamned insults. You are the rattlebrain fool, along with Psycho Piggamus Maxassus. You are a commie and Piggamus is a stocking full of smaeely dung marbles."
Dude, stop, my face hurts from laughing. You, also, must be a comic genius, because nobody could possibly be that incoherent in coming up with insults.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at June 22, 2005 09:19 AM (0yYS2)
Posted by: Oyster at June 22, 2005 09:54 AM (fl6E1)
25
"What's "smaeely"?"
How should I know, I'm a trwason.
Posted by: Porcus Maximus at June 22, 2005 09:57 AM (0yYS2)
26
Rusty stop wimping out. You state your opinion and the reasons for it and move on... Stop trying to justify it or see how many others you can list that are with or against your judgement.
Take a stand, then move on...
Your not going to agree with everyone, everytime. If you did than those of us that can and will think for ourselves would stop reading you.
By the way, your wrong. He's just playing us. He got caught going over the line and his buddies threatened to leave him out there all alone unless he backed up.
Posted by: kjl at June 22, 2005 10:06 AM (NfZYP)
27
I consider my blog part of a conversation, with the readers and with other bloggers.....
Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at June 22, 2005 10:26 AM (JQjhA)
28
If you know just two more facts; then you can judge if Durbin made a valid/heartfelt apology!
1. Mayor Daley told him in no uncertain terms, three hours before Durbin apologized that he (Durbin) was WRONG!
2. A good bit of support for Durbin in elections comes from normally Republican Lithuanian neighborhoods in Chicago....he is 2nd gen Lithuanian.....These folks DO NOT LIKE comparisons of their America or its army to such as the gulags, et al.
He made the apology cause he wants to keep his job....
Duke of DeLand
Posted by: Duke DeLand at June 22, 2005 10:47 AM (FenSs)
29
Possibly, but how can we ever know someone's real 'motives'?? I judge people on their actions, not motives.
Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at June 22, 2005 10:50 AM (JQjhA)
30
Actually, I'm glad that Rusty links to those of varying opinion regardless of the issue; or whether he's wants to back up a point. Once in a while my view may shift because someone at one of those links will make a valid point I hadn't considered.
Posted by: Oyster at June 22, 2005 10:51 AM (fl6E1)
31
"I don't think it was the bloggers or the outraged public in general. "Someone" got to him and demanded it. Someone he knew he'd better listen to."
AIPAC. Look at how much money he has taken from AIPAC throughout his career. Perhaps, the bloggers and general public may have been incensed by his comments, but I think every red blooded american knows that even freedom of speech applies to Senators. So, while his comments may have been offensive and outrageous to some, no one would "force" him to apologize except some fascist organization or people that have fascist tendencies.
Now, no one on this board has facist tendencies do they ;op
In order to force someone to apologize over words they spoke, then you are forcing someone to abandon their freedom of speech. If Durbin should resign for anything, it is over that, that as a Senator, he should set an example. The setting of the example of the freedom of speech is far more important than a few groups getting their feathers in a ruffle over some words that were spoken.
Posted by: root at June 22, 2005 11:02 AM (dAUUf)
Posted by: osamabinhiding at June 22, 2005 11:26 AM (CYGDF)
33
Holy shit, I can't stop laughing while looking at that link...Saddam skateboarding on the golden arches and the insurgent trying to hide in a burger is too much!
Posted by: osamabeenvotin' at June 22, 2005 11:28 AM (CYGDF)
Posted by: osamabeenvotin' at June 22, 2005 11:48 AM (CYGDF)
Posted by: kjl at June 22, 2005 12:22 PM (NfZYP)
36
Yeah we've seen it, and frankly, it's totally irrelevant, because the only cost that matters is the cost of not going to war. You see, we are under attack from a persistant and ruthless enemy. They want to kill us, including you. Being a good dhimmi won't save you, so reach down, feel around a bit until you find some nuts, and remember that you are supposed to be a man. If our ancestors thousands of years ago had been like liberals, there would be no human race, because they would have been too scared to leave the cave.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at June 22, 2005 12:25 PM (0yYS2)
37
Ah, IM...I forgot that most Americans still think that Iraqis were flying those planes into the twin towers, not Saudis. Oh yeah, and I never believed for a second that Osama and Saddam were bed buddies, or "good gays". I'm still waiting for those WMD's to show up...or at least a capable nuke. Yup, now we're just the big "liberator" shoving Democracy up Muslim asses. Nothing like our best ally in this war (England) having a poll in which people tied Bush and Saddam as being a threat to world peace. I bet those liberal ancestors you speak of probably wouldn't leave the cave...but if they stayed in caves, at least they would have found Osama by now!
Posted by: osamabeenvotin' at June 22, 2005 02:24 PM (CYGDF)
38
Did someone turn off html in the comments? Gosh, I can hardly express myself any more without html.
Anyway, I can probably forgive Durbin on a personal level, but not on a professional level. It's a matter of not having idiots in positions of power. Grandstanding by comparing the US to totalitarian regimes isn't just offensive, it's monumentally STUPID! I don't think there's any justification for having such a person in the US Senate, but then that's up to the voters. I don't hate Durbin. It's just that he's an incompetent we'd be better off without. For such malfeasance he'd be fired from a normal job, and be free to look for another position. That would be appropriate in this situation too.
Posted by: Demosophist at June 22, 2005 03:23 PM (FVRfJ)
39
I think Durbin is a pussy for apologizing. He should have stuck to his guns. I KNOW who got to him. It was AIPAC. Look how much money theyÂ’ve given himÂ…
http://www.wrmea.com/archives/July_Aug_2004/0407027.html
Posted by: greg at June 22, 2005 03:51 PM (/+dAV)
40
You're very gracious, Rusty.
To my mind, Durbin placed himself forever in the ranks of those who will sell anything to gain a political point or two -- or who have no concept of the cost involved. Like Kerry and Fonda. Once that line is crossed... *slap*flick*
[think mosquito]
Posted by: Claire at June 22, 2005 04:55 PM (l1oyw)
41
Upon re-reading the "apology" it seems to me that he's not apologizing for demeaning the US war effort or putting Americans at risk so much as apologizing for demeaning the holocaust by comparing it to something closer to a fraternity initiation. In other words, he doesn't really have an inkling that his remarks harmed the US war effort, nor does he give a damn. Whether he demeaned the holocaust at the same time is a salient issue, but it's not the essence of the complaint against him. This is a type of "bait and switch."
Winds of Change notes that this really was not an apology in any substancial way, and Armed Liberal notes that the sort of "support and affection" the Dems seem to have for US service people is a lot closer to the love and support that abusive parents display toward the children they beat on a regular basis, than any genuine concern or caring. (Since I can't use html to post a link, here's one to AL's post on WoC.):
http://www.windsofchange.net/archives/003564.php
The bottom line, however, is that although he probably ought to be recalled, the Democrat establishment via Richard Daley probably won't allow that to happen, now that they've got their cosmetic "apology." But that doesn't change the fact that he ought to be recalled, and that the non-apology ought to be a huge issue the next time that seat comes up for a vote.
Say "Good night!" Dick.
Posted by: Demosophist at June 22, 2005 05:10 PM (FVRfJ)
42
Hardly an apology!
Senator Durbin delivered a prepared speech. In it he referenced a specific instance and then compared our military to Nazis, and the Gitmo facility to a Soviet Gulag. It's no coincidence that "gulag" is the same term used by Amnesty International. Calling this Administration "Nazis" is the favorite rhetoric of groups like MoveOn.org. He was clearly pandering to the anti-war, anti-Bush segment. His remarks played directly into the hands of our enemies.
I call people like Senator Durbin, "Americas New 5th Column". The American People need to understand how irresponsible his tactics are. I want him to release the FBI email he quoted so everyone can see the entire context of the report. I don't believe the memo wil justify his characterization. I have written an online petition to demand he release his references. You can support the effort at:
http://www.thepublicview.com/Durbin/DrbnPetitionNamesDisplay.asp
Help me hold Senator Durbin accountable.
RWJones
Posted by: RWJones at June 22, 2005 06:14 PM (f5517)
43
Yo RW Jimmyjoejones,
Hold MChimpy Bush accountable first, dammit!
Posted by: BUSH LIES - SOLDIERS DIE at June 22, 2005 07:35 PM (FV4oJ)
44
Yo RW Jimmyjoejones,
Hold McChimpy Bush accountable first, dammit!
Posted by: BUSH LIES - SOLDIERS DIE at June 22, 2005 07:35 PM (FV4oJ)
45
I hold you accountable for trying to steal the light you loser BUHLIES GO AWAY!
Posted by: Downing Street Memo at June 23, 2005 05:53 AM (ScqM8)
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