The reaction of our elected officials to the war in Iraq is not in proportion to the events as we read about them. They show an indifference to human suffering that is unprecedented in this country. My guess is that they truly don't know what to do. Bush's conduct is unconscionable. We cannot continue to allow him to be the 'decider'. He is an impediment to any hopes of resolution, diplomacy or bringing our people home. We can't allow this to continue. Thanks, ANNA

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...now that the public has turned against the war.

BTW of course the war is criminal. Read article 6 section 2 of the US constitution, then compare to our dismissal of the UN Charter.

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Pres. Bush got it right when he said he and his cronies got a "thumpin'" during the mid-term elections. Sen. Smith got it right when he said Bush has a "stubborn backbone." I'm getting it right when I say that our Congress has no backbone; it's only when they see the playground bully in trouble that they courageously come out of the shadows to thump him. Kind of pathetic if you ask me.

And the Democrats shouldn't be spared our contempt either. How many of us shook our heads in surprise and dismay when Bush started making his ludicrous case for war with Iraq four years ago? Yet, how many of our brave senators and congresspeople rose up in protest? It's sickening to see them all fired up with righteous indignation today, when they're perfectly safe. Who's the bully now?

In the end, the fault is our own. We Americans can't seem to tell the difference between a real leader and a schoolyard bully. For whatever reasons, we love the pea-brained bluster and cowboy swagger and are frightened by brutal honesty. We deserve this passion play (although our soldiers and thousands of innocent Iraqis sure don't).

I can only hope that our younger generation is paying attention. There's always hope!

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Senator Smith has gone along with all of the Bush plans and usurpation of our rights for 6 years. He will be running for ree-election in 08, and probably wants to get some support from Western Oregon.
The only good thing he has done in the past 6 years is vote against "bunker buster Nukes".
Most of us have known all along that our constitution and laws ban pre-emptive wars of choice. So does the UN charter which we wrote. Bush, being a spoiled rich boy, has never had to obey any rules or laws in his life. We need to get rid of him via impeachment for high crimes and war crimes.

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Gordon Smith is an ass-kissing bush clone, and extreme partisan hack. His priorities center around himself and his image. He, no doubt, is thinking about '08 and how he can make himself look good come election time. As an Oregonian, I look forward to his ignominious defeat at that time. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

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Mr Smith, where were you when evidence of Bush administration impropriety kept popping up over the years? Why are you just now coming to this conclusion? The truth is you have voted almost 100% for Bush-led legislation, just like the good little patriot you are. Your constituents have finally gotten it, and you know it. That's the real reason behind this little act. And even if this speech reflects your true feelings, it's still too late. You failed those you represented when they needed it, whether by being part of the corruption, or falling for the lies. Either way, you failed. 2008 cannot come too soon.

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I am among those who think he instigated the "bad information", not just that he passively believed it.

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If the Senator had made this statement before November 7th, really, before ballots had been mailed to voters (Oregon is all vote-by-mail, believe it) his words could possibly be seen as anything other than cowardly and opportunist. He was a Bush rubberstamp as a member of the majority party and is now reacting to the words gleaned in the tea leaves as he tries to cling to his seat. May the progressives in Oregon prevail this Scorched Earther in '08.

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