Dem Rep Dan Boren (OK): We Should Withdraw From Iraq, But Let's Vote On It Some Other Time

[babylonsister]

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jul/15/dem_rep_dan_boren_we_should_withdraw_from_iraq_but_lets_vote_on_it_later

Dem Rep Dan Boren: We Should Withdraw From Iraq, But Let's Vote On It Some Other Time
By Greg Sargent | bio

File this in the "with Dems like these, who needs Republicans" department.

In today's Washington Post, conservative Dem Rep. Dan Boren of Oklahoma offers this rather intriguing explanation for why he voted against the House bill last week mandating withdrawal by April 2008:

"We're moving the goal posts," Boren said with low-key Oklahoma exasperation. "The administration, frankly, has moved the goal posts forward past September, and I disagree with that. But the members of Congress who are wanting to have this vote in July are really moving the goal posts, as well."

Members of Congress who want to move as quickly as possible to get us out of Iraq are "moving the goal posts"? Yep -- this is just some goddamn game, and Dems aren't playing fair. Tell that to these military family members who want the war ended now so their husbands and fathers can come home.

Look, what makes this particularly amusing in its imbeciliity is the fact that later in the same interview, Boren himself says that he thinks the President should withdraw the troops from Iraq. He isn't going to do this, obviously. So if you've already decided that you want him to pull out, there's simply no earthly reason to wait for Petraeus' report before voting for withdrawal, since that report is designed to do nothing but allow Bush to make another appeal to continue his war forever.

Yet here Boren is chastising Congressional Dems for trying to accomplish what he himself says he wants accomplished -- and all because Dems aren't doing it on Bush's preferred schedule. This sort of thing does nothing but help the White House prolong the war. Pathetic.

[Warren Stupidity]

1. April 2008: unacceptible.

Yes that is indeed moving the goalposts. Boren happens to be right. This bill pushed any exit at all out until April of 2008. We need to get out now. We need to tell the military: organize a withdrawal and execute that plan. Now.

[rodeodance]

2. idoit-----the WH has been moving the goal posts out or over 4 years!

[spanone]

3. 'funding' is the only requirement to become a rep. not intelligence.

[TwilightGardener]

4. This asshole doesn't get it. The reason why Iraq is being voted on/debated

now in July (with the Defense bill), rather than holding our fire until September, is to set the stage for September. Raise awareness with the public, force the issue, pressure and chip away at Repubs, and create the EXPECTATION among the public that things will DEFINITELY have to change by September. Whether or not anything passes in July that's veto-proof is not the issue: it's the public expectation game for September that's really key. Boren either got the wrong memo, or he's another Nelson/Lieberman.