Stop following the Democrats; lead them instead

[welshTerrier2]

it's time, way past time, to change who's in control ... i hear Howard Dean yelling "you have the power" over and over again ... he was right; we have the power ... the problem is, we don't act like we have the power ... we act like spectators in our own democracy ... stop looking for heroes ... we need to define an agenda and demand that it gets implemented ... we've been far too easy on our representatives ... they are there to serve us; not the other way around ...

the American people, and i'm sure most DU'ers, are sick and tired of this damned war ... well, let's stop it ... do you think supporting anyone who calls for any kind of continued investment in Iraq, the "we can still eke out a little success" crowd, is going to stop the war ...

i, for one, am not willing to wait until "bush leaves office" ... ARE YOU?

there's a little too much common wisdom about how "we can't just leave" ... really? we can't? of course we can ... we don't belong there; the Iraqis don't want us there; the international community does NOT want us there; the American people do NOT want us there ... but all these sage "leaders" warn us about what will happen if we leave ... they may be right about that; what they don't seem to recognize is that what's going to happen is going to happen when we do leave ... we have not and will not make any progress in Iraq ... no matter what objective you seek to realize, it ain't going to happen ...

we need to tell "our guys" that we want this damned war stopped ... and they need to understand that there will be consequences if they fail to represent us ... i am sick of the "one issue voter arguments" ... i care about lots of issues ... one of them is good representation and we sure as hell haven't seen much of that ...

the linked article below, written by Cindy Sheehan, describes her meeting with Dennis Kucinich ... Kucinich and Sheehan both recognize that if the next round of funding for Iraq passes the Democratically controlled Congress, the war and occupation will continue through the end of bush's term ... that's January, 2009 unless bushCo gets impeached and removed from office ... January, 2009 ... how many more will die between now and then? and for what?

the only power Congress has is the shutting off of funds ... before you get all rational and whiny, understand that cutting off funds would have to be done in a responsible way ... no one advocates abandoning our military and stranding them in Iraq without adequate safeguards ... a cutoff of funds would have to be done in a way that would authorize funds only for defensive purposes (protecting American military) and for withdrawal operations ... don't let those concerns be the basis of your objection ...

the only power you have is the power of your vote and your support of our candidates ... stop being just a follower; be a leader ... if you believe the war must be stopped, make it happen ...

here's the Sheehan article: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1207-21.htm

The poll question is: are you prepared to let your Democratic representatives know in no uncertain terms that if they expect your support in the future, you want to see a cutoff of funds for the war as long as adequate safeguards for the military are still provided?

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Typo, I Think

Check your question again - I think you meant not included.

[welshTerrier2]

2. thanks ...

how about now?

[Vincardog]

3. Point of order. We want to end the Illegal OCCUPATION of Iraq it is not a war.

[USA_1]

4. poll

"The poll question is: are you prepared to let your Democratic representatives know in no uncertain terms that if they expect your support in the future, you want to see a cutoff of funds for the war as long as adequate safeguards for the military are still provided?"


An excellent challenge.

I suggest that participants in this forum wait until the new Congress goes into session next month before this challenge is made to Democratic representatives. Moreover, it should be made with just as much force towards Republicans. I also suggest that a series of follow ups be continuously made in this forum so that progress can be measured.

[ulysses]

5. are we really prepared

to put teeth in the implied threat in the poll?