Chris Shays ripped apart on Hardball over Iraq flip-flop

Flip-flop, flip-flop!

Oh man, you can tell Norah O'Donnell had a great time grilling Chris Shays on Hardball yesterday and although I'm not a big fan of O'Donnell, she did the right thing and called Shays out over his sudden change of heart and calling for a timetable for U.S. troops in Iraq.

After 14 visits to Iraq it seems like the Congressman from the 4th district did a magical 180 degree turn when it comes to Iraq (maybe it had something to do with Ned Lamont beating Shays' buddy Joe Lieberman in the primary by 10,000 votes or the really tough re-election campaign he's facing against Democratic Congressional candidate Diane Farrell).

You see, besides Lieberman, Shays was (and still is) one of the biggest cheerleaders when it comes to supporting this war so it speaks volumes when he does this obvious flip-flop and as you'll see in the videoclip, O'Donnell turned on the grill and cooked him until he was well-done.

I almost feel bad for the guy as he fell on his own sword in front of my eyes (notice how O'Donnell laughs at him at the end of the interview...classic).

If you think O'Donnell was harsh, read what Diane Farrell had to say about Shays' change of heart.

Chris Shays' position on Iraq is as clear today as it was three-and-a-half years ago - he fully supports the war, he's been the president's most loyal supporter on the war and he continues to give the president a blank check to conduct that war, said Diane Farrell, Democratic nominee in the 4th Congressional District.

"Three months before Election Day, Chris Shays is trying to change history, but the record is clear," Farrell said. "Our positions couldn't be any different or clearer. Chris supports the war; I oppose it. Chris thinks we're making progress; I don't. Chris isn't calling for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to resign; I have repeatedly. Chris doesn't think we need an exit strategy; I do.

"I have always opposed this war, going all the way back to its run-up when, as first selectwoman of Westport, I addressed Congressman Shays directly and asked him not to do exactly what he ultimately did - give the president a blank check to pursue a misguided war.

"Chris Shays has been to Iraq 14 times. Thirteen times he came home saying things were great. Now all of a sudden he sees what I've been saying for years. I find that quite curious."

[...]

"Bottom line," Farrell said, "It's the president, the commander-in-chief, who has the power to bring an end to this war and bring the troops home. Congress, and especially Chris Shays, have been absent from their duties which should have been to ask for a plan from the very day this war was authorized.

"Congressman Shays may think he can change history by trying to morph his position in year four of this war. But the record is clear - he still supports this war and he will have to answer for that."

Diane Farrell: True Democrat. Chris Shays: scared shitless over losing his Congressional seat.