I have been warning for some time now that the Democrats are pushing too slowly and cautiously to get us out of Iraq. And that at some point the Republicans would try to outflank them and pretend that they got us out of Iraq. That movement has now begun with several high profile Republicans getting ready to pull the plug on this Iraqi misadventure. Now, what's going to be the Democratic response? I hope it's not more of the tepid, lukewarm approach we've been getting so far.
The leading bill among the Democrats is the Levin-Reid bill that says we should begin withdrawal in April, 2008 -- and only if the president agrees. That's an awful bill. That allows the president to continue to get his way pretty much until the end of his administration, against the wishes of most of the Democrats, a huge majority of the American population and now even many Republicans.
They need to scrap that approach and get much tougher, much quicker. Otherwise, the Republicans in Congress will say they got us out of Iraq, and they might even be right.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. Hell, the Demochickens on the Hill can't even impeach Gonzo.
What can you expect?
BT at 11:58AM on Jun 27th 2007
2. The Democrats want us out of Iraq, but they need more votes to over-ride the veto. thats a fact, without more republicans coming over to realization that the war is a failure, nothing the Dems write can be passed. We need a Democrat President and then everyone will see what the great democrats can do. & exactly how could the republicans say they got us out of iraq when everyone knows if it wasn't for the democratic led congress, the issue of pulling out of Iraq wouldn't even be a major option.
Patrick at 2:39PM on Jun 27th 2007
3. Nope! And why you may ask? Because it's in the interest of both corrupt parties to continue the funding for this "mass murder" if they want the money train to keep on rolling. As well as the agenda of the elites, their masters. The establishment gave the Democrats the power, silencing and pacifying the public, who were fed up with the Republicans. And what have the Democrats done with that power? Absolutely NOTHING! And that's why the elites and the crooks in politics prosper from this, at the expense of the innocent civilians who are slaughtered, and the rest of us who continue to be their slaves. Both parties play the good cop/ bad cop game. I've realized this and inform the people of what's really been going on and continuing to go on. You should do the same.
Darin Barrows at 2:52PM on Jun 27th 2007
4. Well, we could also give the Petreaus plan a chance to work. I agree that the President doesnt have the political back-up to contimue this course much beyond the fall, unless the Iraqis actually come up with the political compromises needed for progress to be shown. Since the American people and the democrats are conditioned to the 24 hour news cycle and have no vision beyon that, I would say that thee specaular attacks by the enemy will hide any military progress that has been made. Even the progress, as with the al Anbar tribes joining the colaition is hidden by the democrat run media.
Beyond all that, your thesis that the republican back sliders are trying to out manuever the democrats is complete hogwash. Those republicans are pandering to their contsituents so they can be re-elected. Maybe you should go back to school, so you can write beyond your seventh grade political analysis skills.
Wally Lind at 4:01PM on Jun 27th 2007
5. Having served in the Navy, I can only imagine how it must feel for our soldiers in Iraq to read things like Patrick wrote. Telling them the war is a failure or Dingy Harry Reid telling them it is lost? The Dems are banking on a defeat to get them more power and I say thats a sad day for this country when some of your citizens are pulling against your troops. I know lots of guys who have served there and they all tell me the same things. The media reports the bad, and ignores anything that is good. Does that really supruse anyone considering 90% of the media is left-wing? Im sure all the Bush/America haters on here will call my right wing, and I dont care. I can proudly say I have served my country and most of you left-wingers only serve yourselves. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
S Tripp at 4:14PM on Jun 27th 2007
6. Say all you want about popularity polls, but, if the U.S. pulls out of Iraq and there ia a massacre in Iraq, or Israel, the tide will quickly shift - remember when 90% of American's supported the War - and the Democrats will be blamed and lose again in masses.
Let's see... if you run the country by popularity polls, there would be no abortions, no gay marriages, no welfare, no illegal immigrant amnesty, all drug dealers and sex offenders would be in prison for life, and the death penalty would be a daily event.
Barbie at 4:47PM on Jun 27th 2007
7. RAMONE!!! Get me a towel to wipe this demobulls**t off my computer screen!
Tim at 6:11PM on Jun 27th 2007
8. to mr. S. Tripp: I support our troops 100%. Stop lisetning to republican pundits who claim all democrats are un-patriotic & don't support the troops, bull! the war is a failure, not because of the troops, but because of the poor execution from the president and failure to realize we are in the middle of a civil war between Iraqis. Not to mention the failure of the Iraq government to cooperate. I support the troops and that why i want them home. There is very little if any good news coming out of Iraq and you know it. Not even Fox has been able to come up with something good. Again, the troops have done a great job, but bring them home. All we need is a small group of special operatives whose job it is to fight al-queda and islamic extremists. A SMALL GROUP THERE FOR A LIMITED TIME, THATS IT! Also to note, the longer we stay there, the more al-queda comes in to try to kill us. And also pplease remember, al-queda was not in any way associated with Iraq before we got there and thats a proven fact!
Patrick at 8:30PM on Jun 27th 2007
9. Democrats. Like republicans are own by corporation's we are the united states of the corporation's the rest of us are ust slaves !
Greg at 9:19PM on Jun 27th 2007
10. Iraq and Afghanistan have proven to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that limited warefare--surgical strikes, limiting civilian casualties, utilizing the smallest possible force--is not viable. America tried this experiment in Korea and again in Vietnam with similar results--failure. America and its government had better wake up to the harsh realities of war.
America won against Germany and Japan during WW2 by inflicting massive casualties on the German and Japanese people. It was horrible. It also turned the German and Japanese people against their own governments. Without the backing of the people, the governments collapsed and the war was over.
The next time America resolves to go to war, we should remember the lessons we learned about winn ing a war and apply them.
jc at 9:26PM on Jun 27th 2007
11. I have to side completely with the navy guy on this. I served as a medic in desert storm. We are serving a great purpose in Iraq. It's a hard fight but one worth winning..and we are winning. As americans we should be behind our military. We never were a people who ran when times got tough..why now?
Meg at 1:05AM on Jun 28th 2007
12. Now what does anyone expect out of the Democrats? They are the weakest link! The Republicans are the strongest link. They always have and always will be. President Lincoln was a Republican! All the Democrats are softies.I like hardy people that can do the right thing, even if some people don't think they can! Republicans rule!
Diana at 1:17AM on Jun 28th 2007
13. Criticism of the democrats in congress by democrats over funding the war is legitimate. The excuse that they do not have a veto proof presence simple does not hold water. They did pass the bill with dollars and a time line. They should have passed it again and sent it back to bush. If he then vetoed it again he, not the congress, would be denying funds to the troops. The democrats in congress caved in by giving bush a blank check just as he got before from the republican controlled congress.
Charles at 6:46AM on Jun 28th 2007
14. Being a liberal Cenk Uygur isn't capable of reporting this or any other situation honestly, liberal ideology comes before the truth. From the beginning Democrats have used the war on terror for political purposes. Before Americans forgot what they felt on 9/11 the Dems were voting with the POTUS on every issue, as soon as public opinion turned they started making promises to surrender the war on terror, and once they got the votes in the congressional elections they promptly failed to fulfil their promises. On the Republican side the people clamoring for changes in Iraq have always been doves concerning Iraq and now feel an honest need to speak out more forcefully. I disagree with them but respect their opinions because I know they are speaking honestly. Dems, on the other hand, base their opinions solely on whether it will get them reelected so it's impossible to respect those opinions.
Robert Byngham at 7:05AM on Jun 28th 2007
15. Democrats! Oh, if they would stop going on tax-dollar wasting trip with their families and work more than 103 days a year the Congress might get something done! People, if a Demospender gets in the White House we are in for LOADS of trouble. Public opinion for war has historically been low for every conflict since WWII. We do need to go in there and start kicking ass but the bleeding hearts out there would do everything to stop it, just like they did in the first Gulf war, when we should have kept kicking them when they were down. Read the real truth on Dickmorris.com if you want to learn how these politicians are nothing more than hot air. If they wanted something done to bring the troops home, it would have been done already. The candidates claim to have a plan once in office, whats wrong with working with the President now to get this done. Why wait till 2008 and another 1000 soldiers lost?
I serve in the AF reserves, am proud to serve and would go into battle in a minute if called upon. Don't feel sorry for us, stand behind us, none of us would enlist if we did not know the consequences that hover over our heads as we stand ready 365 days a year for that call from our commanders to send us out. The issue is poor recon of our enemies and the failure to look into our chrystal balls to see how they would inflict their hurt on us. Presidents and Generals cannot predict the future, they can only deal with the present. the solution is power and might, we need to flex a little more of both to get us out of Iraq. Politicians cannot do it, they only enact the war order, it is the soldiers and airmen that win and bring us home!
Lewis at 7:44AM on Jun 28th 2007