Democrats Capitulate - Political Forum

CHUQ · #1 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 04:44 AM

They are scurring around trying to explain the crawfishing.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Despite losing the
Iraq war budget battle to the White House, Democrats are giving a positive spin to Congress' vote on it last week while gearing up for new, tougher battles on the unpopular war.

Just hours after
President George W. Bush got his demand for a war budget stripped of troop withdrawal dates, Democratic leaders said the fight was not over.

"Its the start of a whole new direction in Iraq," said House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record). "No more blank check for the war in Iraq," she told Bush.

"We have moved the national debate on the war, and now every month this president faces another challenge to his policy," warned Majority Whip and second-highest Democratic Senator Richard Durbin (news, bio, voting record).

Democrats prepare new strategy on Iraq war - Yahoo! News

Steven V Lutes · #2 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 02:22 PM

Their approval rating in polls seems to have declined a lot, too. Of course they have a way to go before catching up (down?) with Bush. I see where they've also scuttled any real reform on earmarks. No wonder the luster is wearing off faster than cheap gold plate on a copper ring.

E.g., John Murtha is easily as repulsive, crooked, and devoid of redeeming social-political value as any Republican and I suspect he represents the real Democratic party power structure at least as much as any other Democrat. What a pig. Don't believe for a second that the parties' apparent polemical differences on things that really matter amount to anything when it comes to actual behavior. Vote third party, fourth party, whatever, or don't bother; 2008 presidential politics is shaping up to be as much fun as catching venereal disease without having sex.

W.E.B. Du Bois · #3 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 02:32 PM

Well the Democrats did what they could. They were in a situation of "chicken" and in this particular situation they were driving a sedan against Bush's M1A2 battle tank and a head on collision would have destroyed the Democrats. The men in the field would have no money for fuel and ammunition or food or medical care, and the Democrats would take the rap for that. That would be the end of the Democratic Party except for in a few enclaves in California and New England.

WEB

top gun · #4 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W.E.B. Du Bois

Well the Democrats did what they could. They were in a situation of "chicken" and in this particular situation they were driving a sedan against Bush's M1A2 battle tank and a head on collision would have destroyed the Democrats. The men in the field would have no money for fuel and ammunition or food or medical care, and the Democrats would take the rap for that. That would be the end of the Democratic Party except for in a few enclaves in California and New England.

WEB

I think I would probably agree with WEB (except for his last sentence

) except with slightly different reasoning.

I'd say seeing that they did not have enough bipartisan support to override the Bush veto on any reasonable timetable for redeployment and also realizing that if they did completely cut off funds the Bush/Cheney administration for political points would likely not pull the troops anyway until they had scored what they felt were enough political points on the troops having to do without.

It's a very bad situation that I think the Dems did as much as they could with considering the current circumstances with only their slim majority. They were able to make their point that they want our troops out, are trying, and will pull them out if they win the presidency and/or enough seats to override a Republican veto.

I still agree with all Democratic presidential candidates that voted "NO" on the funding as a confirmation of what they will do if elected.

The choice in 08 may well come down to at least 4 more years after 08 of a stuck in a Vietnam type quagmire with no real exit stratagy... or electing those who will change it and redeploy. If you're not registered to vote don't wait... please go to your local library today and sign up.