Why did the Democratic Congress surrender to Bush?

[IndianaGreen]

Now that the Vichy Democrats have staged another surrender to Bush, we must analyze the reasons behind their treasonous collaboration with the American dictator Bush. Can we say that the Beltway Democrats covet Iraq's OIL as much as the GOP?

Democrats drop “withdrawal” deadlines as administration mulls post-surge Iraq

By Bill Van Auken
23 May 2007

With just days left until Congress goes into its Memorial Day recess, the Democratic leadership has reportedly dropped any proposal for a timeline for partial withdrawal of US troops from Iraq as part of a new war-funding bill.

The Democrats’ abandonment of this principal prop in their antiwar charade comes as the Bush administration is reported to be in discussions on what shape US policy will take in the aftermath of the present military “surge” that has poured tens of thousands of more American combat troops into Baghdad and Anbar province.

Behind the media reports of a showdown between Democrats and Republicans over the Iraq war, what in reality appears to be emerging in Washington is a bipartisan consensus on a strategy that would continue the US occupation of the oil-rich country for many years to come.

<snip>

The principal benchmark that is invoked by politicians of both parties is the Iraqi parliament’s passage of a draft oil law. While this legislation is presented as an essential step in ensuring the fair distribution of the country’s oil wealth among different ethno-religious groups, it is, in fact, aimed principally at clearing the way for US-based energy conglomerates to exploit Iraqi oil reserves on extraordinarily profitable terms.

In an analysis of this premier “benchmark” last week, the Christian Science Monitor cited reports that “the draft law in fact says little about sharing oil revenues among Iraqi groups and a lot about setting up a framework for investment that may be disadvantageous to Iraqis over the long term.”

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2007/may2007/iraq-m23.shtml

[ninkasi]

1. IG, I am beyond disgusted

I feel a great sense of betrayal that those we worked so hard to elect are ignoring the will of we, the people. They are setting aside principled opposition, and settling for a timid policy that they believe will help them get reelected. I believe that they have badly miscalculated our reactions to their betrayal, and think that they are doing what is politically safe. I think they are wrong.

I will not contribute another penny to any Democrat who gives in to Bush and his criminal excesses. What's the point of having a Democratic majority, if we continue to bend over every time the little dictator has another temper tantrum?

[IndianaGreen]

2. The American people elected a Democratic Congress to change course in Iraq, not a Vichy surrender

I hope that this surrender gives additional momentum to the campaigns of those Democrats that are clearly for a US withdrawal, without a residual occupation force or bases. Democrats like Kucinich, Edwards, and Richardson!

[ninkasi]

5. I'll donate to Edwards

I won't donate to the others. I also won't donate to the DLC, or DCCC. I refuse to give money to causes that are against the interests of the American people. I like Edward's fight for the elimination of the gap between the haves and the have-nots in this country.

While personally, I might be assured of my financial future, I can't enjoy that future if my fellow citizens are hurting. My humanity would disappear. I might never have to fear being homeless, or without medical care, or enough to eat, but how can I enjoy those things while my brothers and sisters suffer?

I am part of humanity. I can't enjoy my life while others are made to suffer so that the very few can prosper. By the same token, how can I enjoy my children, my grandchildren,my nieces, and nephews who are safe here, while others lose their loved ones?

I know how deeply, and completely, I love each and every one of them. I could not live with myself if I condoned the sending of other people's loved ones to possible death, and horrific injury, and kept returning the monsters who ordered this unholy thing to be to positions of power.

From now on, I will only support the Democrats who stand up to Bush, and try to end this illegal, unholy war of choice, which Bush has caused, thinking that it would provide him the illusion of manhood. Nothing will do that. He is a coward, and a traitor to the American people. He should be impeached, along with Cheney, and removed from power.

[PassingFair]

29. I have to believe that if Edwards were in the Senate today...

he would have caved with the rest. Hell, from his record,
he would have LED the cavers, and written the proposal.

I'm stepping up my note writing to Gore.

[leftofthedial]

3. Why?

because they truly are just as bad as repukes. both parties now represent the oligarchy and the war profiteering capitalists.

this is a major-league fuck you to the Democratic base that put these scum in office to change things. We were lied to in 2006 and betrayed in 2007.

It's time for a revolution. Both parties are our enemies.

[Le Taz Hot]

11. I couldn't agree more.

"Both parties are our enemies." I quit the Democrats in 2004 and became independent. I vote for (even if I have to write in) the PERSON and NOT the party. Voting for a person just because they have a "D" next to their name is irresponsible and it's why the Democrats think they can run rough shod over their constituents.

[info being]

12. In other countries, that's how it works indeed

[man4allcats]

4. Re: "Can we say that the Beltway Democrats covet Iraq's OIL as much as the GOP?"

Actually, we can regrettably say that. It is sad but true. Personally, I prefer street whores. At least with them you know what you're getting.


Impeach the Bastids!

[IndianaGreen]

6. Kucinich: While Washington Sleeps, Effort to Privatize Iraq’s Oil Continues

Kucinich: While Washington Sleeps, Effort to Privatize Iraq’s Oil Continues

Washington, May 18 - WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today’s Washington Post had a headline story “Bush Open to Iraq Benchmarks.” Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) issued the following statement:

“The benchmarks include a provision, which would lead to privatization of Iraq’s oil wealth. The President is open to such legislation because it is his idea. He and the Vice President have consistently misled the Congress on this matter, attempting variously to mask the privatization scheme as ‘equitable revenue sharing’ and as a means toward ‘reconciliation.’ This is a grand deception.

“While the media is paying close attention to the process of negotiations between the Administration and Congress, very few are looking at the most substantive issue in all the benchmarks: The attempt to force Iraq to privatize its oil, a provision open for all who can read to see in the text of the bill before the Iraqi Parliament.

“Congress has had little or no examination of the consequences of the benchmark which calls for Iraq to pass a Hydrocarbon Act. It isn’t asking questions and the President isn’t telling.

“Of course the President isn’t ruling out punishing the Iraqi government for not reaching benchmarks, because his Administration has deceitfully linked concepts of reconciliation and equitable oil revenue sharing to the passage of the Hydrocarbon Act which leads to privatization of Iraq’s oil wealth!

“Democrats have denied they are for anything which privatizes Iraq’s oil, which means they may be largely unaware of what the consequences in the bill are because of Mr. Bush’s deception.

“This entire matter about control of Iraq’s oil would be a farce, if it were not so tragic in its implication. First, Congress wanted benchmarks because the President wanted them. Now the President wants benchmarks because Congress wants them. Who is the father of this baby?!

“Meanwhile Congress prepares to continue to fund the war while the White House crafts a ‘bipartisan consensus’ to force Iraq to show “progress,” meaning Iraq gives up control of its oil. This war will never end if Iraqis believe we are trying to steal their oil, and, given the substance of the Hydrocarbon Act, how could they believe anything else?”

http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=65420

[tavalon]

8. I don't see much difference between street whores and congresscritters

And I guess this was a much needed reminder of just what we are getting.

[leftofthedial]

14. "you know what you're getting"

and how to treat it

[Greyhound]

7. K & R I have to say that I am somewhat gratified to see so many here

that have not been duped by these corporate whores. Spilling more blood, both American and Iraqi, so that oil companies can steal even more is beyond shameful, it is acting as a knowing accomplice to this crime. attempting to hide the truth of their collusion by buying us off with a wholly inadequate minimum wage increase, which mark my words will be watered down to next to nothing while the oil deal goes through unchanged, is cynical beyond comprehension.

Can't hardly wait to hear the pathetic excuses and justifications from the "professional" advocates.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. Democrats don't learn vicariously. I'm convinced of it.

Each time there's a new Dem leader there's a honeymoon period where they think that the other side really means it when they ask to cut a deal. The only problem is, the first gesture of this deal usually involves giving into the Republicans. The Republicans, when it's time to deliver their side of the bargain, renege.

Will they never learn?

[Kolesar]

10. I *never* hear the withdrawl from Iraq discussed in terms of oil production

....in analyses of the war that I hear on NPR or read in the newspaper. Not heard on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, for that matter.

Maybe it is *our* turn to write to the media about this. They are not *all* RW zealots. I think the media has turned on the "climate protection" issue well.

[info being]

13. I'm so fucking tired of having to sign petitions and tell Dem leadership...

...where we stand and what they should do. Why can't we elect someone to *represent us* and just simply do the right thing...like Kucinich or something. Fuck.

[Lone_Wolf]

15. Are the Congress Dems playing 'good cop' to Bush's 'bad cop'?

I am so disgusted with them. They could end the war if they wanted to by cutting off funding, but they won't. It appears to me that they are going along with the war, and only giving the appearance of being against it.

[IndianaGreen]

17. The only role the Democratic leadership is playing is BOHICA

Kucinich called today for the defeat of the funding bill. We must support those Democrats that stand alongside us against Bush, and I only see Kucinich, Edwards, and Richardson from among the Presidential candidates.

[IndianaGreen]

16. C-SPAN had Dennis Kucinich on the House flloor discussing the oil law today

I will post the transcript whenever it becomes available, but in a nutshell, Dennis called for either stripping the oil provision from the war funding bill, or defeating the bill altogether.

We must demand the defeat of this surrender to Bush.

[hijinx87]

18. I see an even more horrifying implication of this vote

in voting to fund this obscene war, and doing so without
even any meaningful timetables for withdrawal, I am afraid
that the democratic leadership is now morally complicit in
what was strictly *'s war.

it was tricky footing politically, to be sure, but this
spectacular collapse may cost us the moral authority to
attack this war as effectively as would have been possible
otherwise.

[blm]

19. Who do you THINK is influencing the Dem leadership and powerstructure to act as they do

over Iraq issues?

This is what is to be expected when a party (and its spokespeople) convinces itself that only one person is powerful and has all the answers.

[hijinx87]

20. hillary clinton

:evilgrin:

I mean that as a sincere attempt at levity in what is
otherwise a tense time around here.

[Heath Hatcher]

21. Good attempt

Yes it's very bad time here but it will get better, people here just need to step away from there keyboard and take a deep breath, by september the negatives will be gone and we can go back to bashing each other presidential candidates we support like it was in the old days

[blm]

23. She relies on Bill's view, too, as they are all on that 'Bill is infallible politically' train

and want us all to jump on it and stay on it.

Who spun the theft of 2000 into "Gore lost because he distanced himself from Clinton" rhetoric?

They make Democrats AFRAID to do anything other than what Bill advises they do - gee - just like Tony Blair believed.

[IndianaGreen]

24. Hillary is in bed with the war profiteers

If Hillary was really against the war, she would be condemning the surrender to Bush on war funding, and she would lead a filibuster against the funding bill.

[Totally Committed]

22. The DLC, corporate lobbyists, and the corporate $$$ that comes

with doing business with BOTH of them.

TC

[whirlygigspin]

25. oh looky! the dems and Bush make peace with each other

[sampsonblk]

26. Vichy Dems are here in force

They are on this board trying in vain to promote this failed policy and the surrenders that have enabled it.

[farmboxer]

27. Lobbyists! Military Industrial Complex

We need real campaign finance ASAP! Power back to the people! Is it too late?! President Gore should be allowed to take office ASAP, he was elected to office but was not allowed to take office! It is time to tell it like it is! Gore won Florida and it wasn't even close! An ace is an ace and a spade is a spade. I am tired of he damned corporate news media!

[DuaneBidoux]

28. Because they really are surrender monkeys? Just a thought.