Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2007 > January > 10 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThe man who won’t be in the picture
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Years ago, those who kept track of communist regimes put great stock in group photographs. To spot who stood closest to Stalin or Mao was to get a glimpse of who was in, and who was out.
Use that as a bit of background on Thursday morning, when you watch those pictures of President Bush and troops at Fort Benning.
U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, a Republican up for re-election in ‘08, won’t be there, we’re told.
Here’s what Chambliss’ office put out on Wednesday night, concurrent with Bush’s speech:
“In my conversations with the White House over the holidays as well as with the President at the White House on Monday, I made it clear that my support of any increase in troops is conditional upon those troops having a specific mission, and upon the completion of that mission those troops should be redeployed.
“I firmly believe that a large increase in troops without having a specific mission will only increase insurgent opposition, and that a withdrawal of U.S. forces at this time would be detrimental to Iraqi security.
“Both of these approaches should be rejected. Failure in Iraq will result in expanded, intensified conflict in the Middle East, and I will continue to be committed to the success of our mission there. ”
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Jim
January 10, 2007 10:33 PM | Link to this
I’m not an expert, but seems to me that with the Senate only having a one vote majority (not to mention that poor Senator Johnson is still in very bad shape), maybe Saxby needs to be in DC for votes? That is what we voted for him to be doing….
Is Senator Isakson attending or is this the AJC making too much about nothing? If Isakson is going to Benning, then there could be some real merit to this story….
By Tom
January 11, 2007 9:16 AM | Link to this
Sen. Isakson is not traveling with the President either. The Senate is in session today, and votes are scheduled throughout the day. In fact, the only members of the GA delegation going to Benning are, I believe, Westmoreland and Bishop.
By tom
January 11, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this
The Senate is in session today, and votes are scheduled throughout the day. For these reasons, Chambliss and Isakson are staying in DC.
By Tony
January 11, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this
Photo ops with the President and other items have never stopped them before. Perhaps Saxby realizes that the man who pretty much put him in office doesn’t have coattails to ride any more. Must be nice to owe so much to a man but then cannot continue to ride the wave even if heading into the storm.
By AJ
January 11, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this
Tony: name a time when Sen. Isakson missed a vote to travel with the President? You can’t, because it never happened.