RNC makes Biden eat crow on failed Iraq predictions
Mood:  cheeky
Topic: Funny Stuff

Now that we now that Joe Biden wants to be Commander In Chief, the GOP has decided to use the Senator’s words against him. This article includes dire predictions from the candidate covering the Iraqi elections and transfer of power.

RNC: Biden's Predictions All Wet

The Republican National Committee let loose against Democratic Senator Joe Biden after he attacked the administration on its progress in Iraq.

"Senator Biden's gloomy view of the significant progress made in Iraq should earn him the title of Pessimist in Chief, RNC Press Secretary Tracey Schmitt said. "While his pessimism is nothing new, it ignores that facts. Freedom is on the march in Iraq and Biden's flawed rhetoric is nothing more than political pandering in an effort to grab headlines."

The RNC outlined Sen. Biden's previous pessimistic predictions on the Iraqi elections, most of which turned out to be nonsense:

Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.): "The Elections Are Going To Be Much Messier. We Are Left With A Bad Choice In Holding Elections And A Worse Choice Of Not Holding It." (CNN's "Late Edition," 1/9/05)

Biden: "And I Think There's Going To Be The Whole Question Of Whether Or Not The Sunnis Participate, Whether There's Any Legitimacy In The Process If They Don't, Et Cetera." (CNN's "Late Edition," 1/9/05)

Biden Said Of The Iraqi Elections: "It's Going To Be Ugly." (PBS' "Charlie Rose Show," 1/5/05)

Biden: "(Election) Success Is Still Possibility. But It Is Receding Rapidly. It's Being Made Much More Difficult." (ABC's "This Week," 12/5/04)

"(D)emocrat Joe Biden Of Delaware, Said Postponing The Election Without A Guarantee Of Sunni Participation Later On Would Just Add More Trouble To Iraq's Already Difficult Road." (NPR's "All Things Considered," 12/2/04)

"Biden Believes Iraqi Elections Scheduled For January Should Be Delayed To Stabilize The Country And Gain Wider Support For The Vote From Sunnis. The Situation Is Still Salvageable, He Said." (Sean O'Sullivan, "Biden Has New Hope For Peace In Mideast," The (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal, 12/2/04)

"Sunnis Must Still Be Involved Politically, Democratic Senator Joe Biden Said. 'They're Going To Have To See More Sunnis Brought Into The Constitution Writing If There's Going To Be Any Legitimacy At The End Of The Day, And I Think We'll See That.'" (Michael McDonough, "British And U.S. Officials Congratulate Iraqi Victors; Turkey Complains Results Skewed," The Associated Press, 2/13/05)

Sen. Biden's Pessimistic Predictions On The Transfer Of Sovereignty:

Sen. Biden Said Iraq Would Need A Referee After Ambassador Bremer Left Iraq. "(W)ho's going to be the referee when Bremer leaves?" (CBS' "The Early Show," 4/7/04)

Sen. Biden Said There Would Be "Absolute Chaos" From The Time Ambassador Bremer Departed Till The Iraqi Elections. "Does anyone think there's not going to be absolute chaos from June 30th until January 1st or 31st when we have general elections?" (CBS' "The Early Show," 4/7/04)

As the RNC notes, the administration has made significant progress in Iraq:

President Bush: "The World Saw Long Lines Of Iraqi Men And Women Voting In A Free And Fair Election For The First Time In Their Lives." (Nedra Pickler, "Bush Congratulates Iraqi Candidates In Final Election Results," The Associated Press, 2/14/05)

75 percent Of Iraqis Support The Government, Up 10 percent From Last Year. (Adriana Lins De Albuquerque, Michael O'Hanlon and Amy Unikewicz, Op-Ed, "The State Of Iraq: An Update" The New York Times, 6/3/05)

"At The End Of 2004...3,100 Schools Have Been Renovated, 364 Schools Are Currently Under Rehabilitation, 263 New Schools Are Under Construction And 38 New Schools Have Been Built." (Department Of Defense Website, "Iraq Year In Review 2004 Fact Sheet," http://www.defendamerica.mil http://www.defendamerica.mil/downloads/ MNFI-Year-in-Review_2004-Fact-Sheets.pdf, Accessed 6/2/05)

Over 100,000 More Iraqis Are Using The Internet Than Last Year. (Adriana Lins De Albuquerque, Michael O'Hanlon and Amy Unikewicz , Op-Ed, "The State Of Iraq: An Update" The New York Times, 6/3/05)

There Are More TV Stations Than Last Year And 20 More Independent Newspapers And Magazines. (Adriana Lins De Albuquerque, Michael O'Hanlon and Amy Unikewicz, Op-Ed, "The State Of Iraq: An Update" The New York Times, 6/3/05)

Over 50,000 More Trained Iraqi Security Forces. (Adriana Lins De Albuquerque, Michael O'Hanlon and Amy Unikewicz, Op-Ed, "The State Of Iraq: An Update" The New York Times, 6/3/05)

NewsMax.com ~ Carl Limbacher ** RNC: Biden's Predictions All Wet