I think that I know why the Dems are divided on timetable in Iraq

[madmunchie]

Possibly if they do unite and agree to a timetable and withdrawl in Iraq, Bush will do the pullout sooner by claiming victory. They then will say if we would have followed the Dems timetable, we wouldn't have "won" because our strategy would not have been to win, but to withdraw on a timetable. By "staying the course" we did win! The Dems wanted to give up and cut and run, if we would have done that Iraq would have been left in dissaray..... What do you think?

[AlCzervik]

1. honestly i don't all of the troops could be brought home before election

i mean physically, it's a big procedure and when the numbers are going down thats when the troops still there are in the most peril, aside from that if the Bush started doing a major draw down "Cut and run" would be applied to him and his and there is no way he'd be willing to do that, he doesn't want to spend the next two years tied up in investigations.

[madmunchie]

5. Even if they claimed "victory"

I'm not saying that all of the troops would come home before the election. But that Bush would claim "victory" and "announce" that almost all of the troops will be coming home victorious in a timely fashion, as opposed to the Dems forcing troop withdrawl "throwing" Iraq into chaos and losing because a "timetable" was enforced.

[AlCzervik]

7. imo it won't work for him, sure he could run it up the flag pole and

see how it flies but ultimately it would fail like almost everything Bush does.

[madmunchie]

9. except he manages to end up in the WH!

[Cocoa]

2. I don't think so

I think if the dems thought Bush would pull out sooner they would allow it to happen, even if it had political consequences for them.

I don't think any dem or any republican thinks Bush wants out. He wants to stay there and build permanent bases, and he wants it bad, and is willing to sacrifice lives for it.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

4. He needs this war to work (the spreading of Democracy was

sold to him by the neocons) for his legacy. Bush is so ego centric he can only see this in terms of his legacy, if he pulled out the writing is on the wall.

I truly believe that this is his rationale.

[MercutioATC]

3. But now Dems can't campaign as the party that "tried to bring them home"

Penny wise and pound foolish.

[AllNamesHaveBeenUsed]

12. 87-13

Was Jeffords one of the 13?

[BlueCaliDem]

6. I don't know what to think.

At the moment, the MSM are touting the failure of Democratic Congressmen/women to support either the Kerry or the Levin/Reed amendment as a "weakness".

And believe you me...that's going to be the mantra come this election!

They are touting the failure of our Party in Congress to unite in anything, as a party that's "wishy-washy" and don't know what they want.

And to be honest?

It's not that hard for anyone not willing to give the Democratic Party the benefit of the doubt, to come to that conclusion after our side (again!) refused to stand with the progressives who really want change.

No wonder you're hearing that the Republican'ts and the Democrats are one and the same.

Why are the Democrats shooting themselves in the foot each and every time? What possible reason can there be to act and vote so timidly against the Republicans??

Can you tell I'm a bit upset? :-(

[madmunchie]

8. NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I can't imagine why!

[TayTay]

10. Why can't anyone just stand up for what they think is right?

We elect people to high public office to represent the will and the best interests of the people. This war or occupation in Iraq is neither popular nor in the best interests of the people of the United States. It will cost us lives, money and the good will of much of the world for years to come. It was a mistake to invade Iraq and it is a mistake to stay there without an exit strategy. It is also morally wrong to puruse a course that we know has no chance of success.

Why do we all have to be political consultants? Why can't we just have people stand up and say what they believe and then let the chips fall where they may. At least we will know that they actually believe in something besides standing for reelection.

[sandnsea]

11. Dems are united on transition and withdrawal

I still say how we get out is more important than when. If we don't have "how", when can never happen. 90% of Democrats recognize Bush has us on a collision course and support a withdrawal strategy, why don't we just stick with that.