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What is The Dem Leadership Thinking On Iraq?

By Big Tent Democrat, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 01:06:17 PM EST
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I can not let go of this statement:

Pelosi's political consigliere, Rep. George Miller (D-CA)'s pitch was blunt: If the liberals team up with Republicans to bring down the Iraq bill, Democratic leaders would have no choice but to come back with a spending bill that simply funds the war, without any policy restrictions. It would pass easily, with Republican votes and the support of many Democrats.

Forget querying the why the Dem leadership would have to do that, forget the fact that Mitch McConnell will filibuster Miller's "great Compromise bill" - Bush has said he will veto it. Pelosi, Miller, Emanuel and the rest of them are negotiatating against themeslves.

There are two possibilities here: the first seems the most likely - the Dem leadership in the House is truly not very good or very bright. If this is their plan for ending the Iraq Debacle, then it will never end.

The other possibility is chilling -- the Dems do not want to end the Iraq Debacle before 2008. They want to pretend that they want to, not do anything concrete to end the Debacle, and then run against the GOP on the war in 2008.

This is not only morally reprehensible, it is politically stupid.

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    What is The Dem Leadership Thinking On Iraq? | 14 comments (14 topical)

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    Two sides of the same coin (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 01:18:40 PM EST
    The most chilling possibility is the real one...Andreas is correct and the Democrats serve the same rotten masters that wanted the invasion and want to keep the occupation going.

    Ugh... (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by joliberal on Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 02:02:11 PM EST
    What a choice. The Dem leaders are either stupid or immoral? Watching this is more painful than all the struggles the Dems went through when out of power. At least they had an excuse back then for not acting.

    My vote is for the second possibility. (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Noor on Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 02:10:19 PM EST
    The entire timeline reeks of electoral politics to me.  Late summer/early fall of 2008?  C'mon!  Who the hell do they think they're fooling?  The cynicism in this move is breathtaking, and Congressional Dems are fools if they think military families are going to be grateful for this delay.

    We can try to change their minds (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by andgarden on Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 03:36:21 PM EST
    My feeling is that we lost the first battle when Pelosi was unable to keep Hoyer from becoming majoity leader. The problem BTD, is that you've been unable to convince a majority of us in the netroots that defunding is the right option. That would seem to me a necessary first step.

    Well (none / 0) (#7)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 03:56:00 PM EST
    I think they do not care to be frank about it.

    The Netroots has not cared about this issue.

    I am bitterly disappointed with their perforamnce, a rank failure.

    Parent

    if booman is right and the netroots are (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by conchita on Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 04:30:20 PM EST
    responsible for the demise of the fox/nevada debates, i do not understand why they cannot get behind ending the war by defunding.  how can this  victory not build confidence in taking a stand and invigorate the netroots and progressive dems?  i can't believe that four years later i am feeling deja vu trying to convince people we should not be in iraq.  i lost friendships back then and will probably lose more now.  i do not understand how anyone can possibly see any benefit to staying in iraq - unless of course they are seriously invested in oil or defense and equally unprincipled.  that the netroots of all groups cannot coalesce to put pressure on congress to end this debacle asap leaves me stunned.  are no better than and as political as our spineless elected leaders?  

    Parent
    Something to be proud of (none / 0) (#12)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 05:07:58 PM EST
    Sure. but not at the expense of attention on Iraq.

    Parent
    yes, i agree, those shiny objects (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by conchita on Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 05:35:10 PM EST
    seem to get us all the time.  if we could just turn them into something bigger, stronger, and longer lasting.  we lost the battles on roberts, alito, and gonsalves.  this one we won.  it's clear that it is due to a combination of edwards taking a stand, knowing that the netroots and progressives would be behind him, and the pressure we put on reid et al.  what will it take for both the dem leadership and the netroots to learn this lesson of taking a stand and working together and run with it to take control of the situation and make things happen.  or maybe they really don't want to....

    Parent
    AGAIN, Big Tent is wrong. (none / 0) (#8)
    by lilybart on Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 04:06:20 PM EST
    What is your obsession with the bloggers and netroots, whatever they are?

    I read all the progressive blogs daily and I see Iraq issues in every other post.

    THERE IS VERY LITTLE WE CAN DO.

    SENATE AND PRES WILL KILL ANY LEGISLATION REGARDING IRAQ.

    Parent

    You're not responding to the substance (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by andgarden on Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 04:18:33 PM EST
    of his arguement.

    Parent
    Without legislation... (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by Ben Masel on Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 04:52:05 PM EST
    Without legislation, the only way they can continue the War is to hold a <s>bake</s> heroin sale. Not unprecedented, that's how Reagan funded Nicaragua.

    Parent
    withdrawal from Iraq (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by diogenes on Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 09:13:33 PM EST
    Does anyone really think that President Hillary would actually pull out of Iraq?  If it's postponed until 2009, it'll last until 2013.  Bill Clinton's Bosnia forces are still there, after all.

    I think they think they are doing the best... (none / 0) (#2)
    by cal11 voter on Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 01:57:23 PM EST
    they can do under the circumstances.

    So they are incompetent (none / 0) (#5)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Mar 11, 2007 at 02:22:24 PM EST
    That's what I said,

    Parent
    What is The Dem Leadership Thinking On Iraq? | 14 comments (14 topical)

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