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Obama on Iraq: No Funding Without Timelines

By Big Tent Democrat, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Sun Sep 16, 2007 at 08:14:49 PM EST
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Via Kos:

“We are going to bring an end to this war and I will fight hard in the United States Senate to make sure we don’t pass any funding bill that does not have a deadline,” Obama told the crowd.

Big props to Senator Obama. Hurrah!

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    Obama on Iraq: No Funding Without Timelines | 22 comments (22 topical)

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    Hurrah! (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by pontificator on Sun Sep 16, 2007 at 08:23:41 PM EST
    Now maybe he can start closing that polling gap with Hillary.

    I'm sure that would help (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Compound F on Sun Sep 16, 2007 at 08:31:42 PM EST
    clarify her thinking immensely.

    Parent
    Finally! (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by TomStewart on Sun Sep 16, 2007 at 08:30:52 PM EST
    Wow, someone should check his eyes, because he had to stand awful close to the light before he finally saw it.

    How close? (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Ben Masel on Sun Sep 16, 2007 at 09:53:28 PM EST
    You think he's been reading here?

    Parent
    Maybe he's raeading... (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by TomStewart on Sun Sep 16, 2007 at 10:33:07 PM EST
    ..a few polls, like the ones showing him behind Hillary, or the ones pointing out what America thinks of the Republican war.

    Parent
    The question now: (5.00 / 3) (#5)
    by andgarden on Sun Sep 16, 2007 at 08:34:02 PM EST
    will he go further than Durbin and actually pressure other Senators?

    You've pegged it. (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by Maryb2004 on Sun Sep 16, 2007 at 08:35:49 PM EST
    We'll see.

    Parent
    That's the big one, isn't it? (none / 0) (#19)
    by Edger on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 07:54:47 AM EST
    Nice to see him coming to grips with reality. Will it be just make the right noises in attempts to co-opt and quiet opposition to the occupation to buy votes? or Or will there be some action and real leadership behind it?

    Parent
    The Deadline (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by diogenes on Sun Sep 16, 2007 at 11:41:15 PM EST
    What does this mean?  When is this deadline-2008, 2010, or what?  Does this exclude "residual troops'?  Obama last week called for a gradual pullback-how does this differ?

    Close but... (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by LarryE on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 01:32:07 AM EST
    ...no cigar.

    "I will fight for" is good but not good enough because it leaves that huge loophole of "we did out best but...."

    When Obama pledges that he will not vote for a funding bill that lack a deadline, then I'll cheer. And not before.

    That's not his position? (none / 0) (#18)
    by robrecht on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 06:40:08 AM EST
    I actually thought that was his position but maybe he was misquoted elsewhere?

    Parent
    Is it? (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by LarryE on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 11:20:48 PM EST
    thought that was his position

    If it is, good and a cheer! Certainly some of the coverage suggests that it is but the quote doesn't actually say that.

    We've been burned more than enough times for extreme caution. I want to hear unequivocal statements that "I will not vote for" - or, even better, the active "I will vote against" - funding bills that lack explicit timetables. Anything short of that and I remain unconvinced.

    In fact, I want the whole deal: "I will actively oppose, filibuster, and if it comes to a vote, vote against any funding bill that does not include an explicit timetable for withdrawal of all US troops within three to six months."

    Now, that would be something to cheer.

    Parent

    I assume that Hillary's knickers (none / 0) (#2)
    by Compound F on Sun Sep 16, 2007 at 08:28:16 PM EST
    are thusly twisted.  How will she triangulate this one?

    She could jump in with with what ... (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Meteor Blades on Sun Sep 16, 2007 at 10:49:47 PM EST
    ...Dan Balz in the WaPo a few days ago called Democratic one upsmanship in regard to Iraq:

    To the panoply of intersecting slogans stating Support the troops: Fully fund the withdrawal. No timelines = no funding, she could add No residual troops.

    Parent

    To top this (none / 0) (#10)
    by Ben Masel on Sun Sep 16, 2007 at 11:00:28 PM EST
    she'd have to join me in the "pass nothing" camp.

    Parent
    Geekesque, where art thou? (none / 0) (#11)
    by oculus on Sun Sep 16, 2007 at 11:04:15 PM EST


    Right here. (5.00 / 3) (#14)
    by Geekesque on Sun Sep 16, 2007 at 11:50:34 PM EST
    I'm glad he said that.

    He should have said it on Wednesday.

    Parent

    Yup. (none / 0) (#15)
    by rashomon on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 12:42:59 AM EST
    It'll be interesting to see how/if Hillary adjusts her rhetoric.  Because she can't afford any daylight with Obama on Iraq.

    Parent
    Wednesday or Thursday or Friday? (none / 0) (#17)
    by robrecht on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 06:37:31 AM EST
    When did he first say it?  Seems like it was a few days ago.

    Parent
    Query: does Congress have the power (none / 0) (#13)
    by oculus on Sun Sep 16, 2007 at 11:47:35 PM EST
    to condition how the President spends the money?

    Spending Power (none / 0) (#21)
    by RustedView on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 10:23:39 AM EST
    Every budget bill that comes out of Congress generally directs the President how money is to be spent.  5 million for this program, 5 million or that program.  Maybe there is an argument, I am sure the administration would make it, that you can't condition how the President spends money on a war, because the President has the authority under Article II to act as Commander-in-Chief.  But, the Congress is still carries the wallet.

    Parent
    I wonder if what Dodd had to say last tuesday (none / 0) (#20)
    by Edger on Mon Sep 17, 2007 at 08:00:06 AM EST
    is having some effect?

    Obama on Iraq: No Funding Without Timelines | 22 comments (22 topical)

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