Dems' big advantage on Iraq
By Steve Benen Monday Jul 23, 2007 7:25amPeople are speaking; is Washington listening?
Most Americans see President Bush as intransigent on Iraq and prefer that the Democratic-controlled Congress make decisions about a possible withdrawal of U.S. forces, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
As the president and Congress spar over war policy, both receive negative marks from the public for their handling of the situation in Iraq. But by a large margin, Americans trust Democrats rather than the president to find a solution to a conflict that remains enormously unpopular. And more than six in 10 in the new poll said Congress should have the final say on when to bring the troops home.
The president has steadfastly asserted his power as commander in chief to make decisions about the war, but his posture is now viewed by majorities of Democrats, independents and even Republicans as too inflexible. Asked whether Bush is willing enough to change policies on Iraq, nearly eight in 10 Americans said no.
Any Dems who are still worried about how the public might react to Congress forcing Bush's hand just aren't paying attention.
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I agree. Why can't the Democrat Congrees just not fund the Iraq War? There would be nothing to veto.
Paying attention, madam speakerwoman?
The Democrats are lacking in one thing (choose any from the list below):
testicles, ballocks, balls, cullions, gonads, nuts, rocks, testes.
I think that if Madam Pelosi will not lead the Dems simply to defund the War, I would support Cindy Sheehan in her bid to defeat Speaker Pelosi. And that is why I also believe, Dennis Kucinich should seriously be considered for Pres. in '08.
The people are overwhelmingly behind Congress cutting funds for Iraq; in fact, I believe that the new poll illustrating the abysmal numbers for Congress has to do expressely with the fact that they blew their first opportunity to do so. This was a mandate of the mid-terms by the majority of americans and they squandered the opportunity. For this, the Congress is getting a black eye right now.
However, the longer they continue to drag their feet and not represent the wishes of the majority, the more unpopular they will become. If Congress truly desires to see it's numbers jump like a kangaroo, the moment they put impeachment ON THE TABLE, their numbers will soar.
They either aren't paying attention, or share an agenda with the douchebag in chief.
Can't the bloggers unite, such as Crooks and Liars, and demand that the Democrats in Congress simply defund the war in Iraq? (The same way the Conservative bloggers recently united to help defeat the Immigration reform which otherwise would have passed.)
But... but.... what if a voter doesn't like me????
Nancy needs to be reminded that Impeachment is not hers to put on or take off the table. It is a remedy given to us the people, in the Constitution, by the framers.
Defunding the Iraq war should be priority number one. That is much easier to do. Only after that, should impeachment be considered.
In fact, if I can comment again, I believe that talk of impeachment is merely a way to avoid the real goal and the real action which needs to be taken, now: DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS SIMPLY DEFUND THE WAR (no Presidential veto entailed)
I am in contempt of Congress.
The Democrats have to get us out of Iraq in the next 15 months, the sooner the better. There is nothing that will prevent bloodshed as we leave, (in large amounts or catastrophic amounts,) but this will happen also if we stay.
My point is we have to get out on the Republican watch. To leave in 2009 or 2010 will poison whatever Democratic administration follows Bush Cheney.
The REAL GOAL is to stop this executive overreach and return checks & balances.
numfar @ 6:
It's the latter of the two theories you posit, numfar.
Mike Gravel, as scary as he may be on some of the issues, such as his tax plan, is almost correct when he says that none of these people will change anything.
They'll just make it worse, is the only change they'll bring.
I think that if Madam Pelosi will not lead the Dems simply to defund the War, I would support Cindy Sheehan in her bid to defeat Speaker Pelosi. And that is why I also believe, Dennis Kucinich should seriously be considered for Pres. in ‘08.
Gail, I couldn't agree with you more. If anything, Pelosi's entire San Fran District has been saying this since 2002, before she became Speaker. And they absolutely love Cindy Sheehan.
I wondered who would be a viable candidate to challenge her ass. It doesn't matter if Sheehan actually wins - what would be a clear message to Pelosi is if Sheehan manages to generate at least 30% of the vote (you need 50% + 1 to win). If she forces Pelosi to actually have to campaign (think Donna Edwards v. Al Wynn in Maryland last year) it guarantees Pelosi will return to Congress a Weak Speaker and subject to undermining by those who are actually listening to the American People.
She ignores us at her peril.
Editorial at buzzflash.com about whether the U.S. will become a totalitarian state.
Or maybe, with the exception of a few, they just really don't care.
No the Dems are not paying attention. They need to start taking charge for once. People from all over the political spectrum are fed up with the Bush Administration. I've heard everything from Bush being a murdering, crooked, liar to down right incompetent when it comes to Iraq. The Dems would be wise to take full advantage of this and start taking action.
I think the reason there are dems still supporting the war despite the public outcry is that they have a hidden personal stake in continuing the war whether it be war profiteering or an external influence such as Lieberman's ties to Israel.
Any politician which defies such strong public opinion is likely making a profit behind the scenes for maintaining the status quo.
More Bush regime stalling, more Bush regime lies: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/24/world/middleeast/24military.html?ex=13... leaving was never part of the plan.
Ruthless, I think permanent US military bases in Iraq was the plan all along (especially once the USA had to pull all its troops from Saudi Arabia).
Insofar as Lieberman and Israel, some of the most outspoken Democrat critics of Bush and continuing the War in Iraq are Jewish like Feingold and Levin and Finestein, so that theory doesn't seem to fly.
The people want change. The Democrats need to follow the blogs lead.
Honor the troops.
BRING THEM HOME.
They've done all that they could do. They've done their duty. Above and beyond.
They've suffered enough due to our indifference and the callousness of George Bush and his enablers.
Ruthless People @ 21:
From the article:
"“Sustainable security” is to be established on a nationwide basis by the summer of 2009, according to American officials familiar with the document.
The detailed document, known as the Joint Campaign Plan, is an elaboration of the new strategy President Bush signaled in January when he decided to send five additional American combat brigades and other units to Iraq. That signaled a shift from the previous strategy, which emphasized transferring to Iraqis the responsibility for safeguarding their security. "
What a load of CRAP.
Why don't they just change the enlistment posters to "Join the Armed Forces and die for NOTHING".
Any Dems who are still worried about how the public might react to Congress forcing Bush’s hand just aren’t paying attention.
Unfortunately neither are many of the Congressional Dems! (not paying attention, that is!)
I say it over and over and over again: we will NOT leave til the contractors are done with their work and everything is secure for the oil industry. Expect to be there several more years.
It can be a 99% for an Iraq time table for a 1% approval rating for Bush, polls don't mean shit. No one is listening.
There's plenty of money to go around with a permanent occupation of Iraq. The feeble Congressional efforts to stop this war is just PR for the next mid-term elections. I think the general public is stupid enough to vote for their republican constituents in the next mid-term just to try something different. that'll put us back in 2001 again.
Solution: as suggested by BillO, overthrow our government. ;)
These Dems and Bush and the Repugs are all the same....the Dems come off as weak but they're actually enablers... they're all the same - if Al Qaeda hits us again, Bush will become de facto dictator of the country and the Dems will continue to waffle...they're all in on it
If you would have just heard Rahm Emanual on msnbc being interviewed by Tim Russert he basically revealed the truth that Democrats feel they are unpopular because they have not drawn down the forces and redepolyed them to afganistan fast enough. He said no Democrat is willing to defund the war only redeploy and draw down. I am completely dumfounded by this nonsense they are not listening to us and they do not care what the majority of the American public who is not willfully insane already knows and believes this unlawful and immoral occupation must end now.
by the way, and for the record, BillO is nuts. thats what ;) means. ...for the record.
Lets not be fooled anymore they are all complicit in the oil grab.
Gail @ 22:
There's a difference between Zionism and Judaism. I'm sure that there plenty of Jews, Christians and Muslims alike who oppose this war. But my point was undue political influence thru the Zionist lobby.
Dave @ 27:
I expect the plan is to never leave. Ever. The Green Zone will have to maintained with maximum firepower in order to keep the decadent new embassy building from being blown to bits.
Don't forget that we spent us a fortune building expensive permanant bases, complete with fast food restaurants. We cannot have Pizza Hut and KFC franchises potentially falling into the hands of the enemy.
I notice military people and the congress don't seem anxious to discuss all of those permanant bases. Hmmm, I wonder why.
There's no advantage to be had.
Ed @ 32:
Bingo. Ed wins today.
I hope the new embassy they're building in the Green Zone has a helicopter pad on the roof.
Impeach Dick-Head and the stupid monkey too.
Liberal AND Proud @ 36:
thank you :) unfortunately due to our willfully ignorant and functionally insane president, vice president and the completely complicit democrats who continue to enable this administrations insane policies there are going to be absolutely no winners on the Arab side the Jewish side or the rest of the world. This illegal and immoral war, occupation and Genocide of the Iraqi people simply because they are sitting on the largest stockpile of oil in the world will only bring destruction on every living creature in the entire world not just the insane human race.
God this is off topic but did anyone feel the massive frustration i felt as Dennis kucinich was interviewed on msnbc in the most hostile manner i have ever seen. The extremely hostile tone the ignorant interviewer (never seen her before) was enlightening she used every fallacious argument throwing the book at him to try and get him to quit the race. It was nice seeing kucinich honorably answer this partisan hack. He even had to remind her that we are not even close to primary season yet and no one should be exiting just because they have low poll numbers that can be easily manipulated and skewed to make the easily manipulated public opinion believe they only have a chance to win with hillery clinton. This woman was not even subtle it was obvious what her intent is and what directive she was given go out there and marginalize this man and his campaign: we need to focus on the top tier that we(the riech-wing media elites) have chosen for the American public to vote for.
Ed @ 39:
Expect the oil whores and media pundits to marginalize Kucinich as much as possible. When asked about global warming during the You Tube Debate, Kucinich must have sent shock waves to the oil industry and all those congressmen, lobbyist, and faux journalists who are in bed with the oil industry.
KUCINICH: Well, we have to understand the connection between global warring and global warming. Because when we start talking about wars for oil, we're essentially keeping the same approach to energy. So I'm saying we need to move away from reliance on oil and coal and toward reliance on wind and solar. Anderson, that's the basis of my WGA, Works Green Administration, where we take an entirely new approach to organize the entire country around sustainability, around conservation. We don't have to have our snowmen melting, and the planet shouldn't be melting either.
COOPER: Are the people on this stage, are your fellow candidates, are they green enough?
KUCINICH: No. And I think that the reason is that if you support, for example, in Iraq, if you say that Iraq should privatize its oil for the U.S. oil companies, then what you're doing is you're continuing a commitment to use more oil. If you believe that all options should be put on the table with respect to Iran, that's about oil. So we need to move away from reliance on oil and that's really connected to our defense policy, and I'm the one who gets the connection.
Gail @ 1:
Agreed. Box off all of Chimpy's options and exit ramps and start bringing the troops home. Now.
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