How does the Kucinich way mesh with the Reid way --- to end the war?

[RiverStone]

On another thread I questioned the value of Harry Reid's all-night strategy. Many fine DU'ers pointed out that last night's vote put the rethug obstructionists in the spotlight for all of America to see. I thought that was a given, though I mostly get my news from DU --- so granted, I'm way out of touch regarding what a lock-stepping red state rethug thinks about (or not).

I'm a life-long loyal DEM and on balance, totally dig DU's perspective --- though I have been frustrated by both Pelosi (on impeachment) and Reid (on aggressively defunding the war). Check out what Dennis Kucinich said last week:

Washington, Jul 12 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) issued the following statement following his vote against HR 2956, the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act.

“We’ve lost over 3,600 of our brave service men and women. An estimated one million innocent Iraqis have perished in the war. We’re now telling Iraqis, whose country the U.S. destroyed, whose reconstruction funds the U.S. mishandled, whose social networks have been shredded: Stand on your own feet! We try to steal their oil under the cover of occupation,” Kucinich said in a debate on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today.

“This bill will not end the war. This bill will not end the occupation. It doesn’t take a vote to end this war. We must inform the Administration that the $97 billion appropriated last month is the end of the financing for the war.

“Use the money that’s in the pipeline through October 1 to bring the troops home. Compel the President to put together an international peacekeeping and security force which would move in as our troops leave.

“We could have our troops home by October 1. The question is whether we are ready to take a stand to do that, or whether we are going to vote on resolutions that give the American people the appearance that we want to end the war, without actually addressing the central issue that will end the war. Stop the funding.”

link:

http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=69245


QUESTION: How is what Dennis Kucinich saying different from the strategy Harry Reid is pursuing?

[cui bono]

1. Reid's strategy puts the onus on the Republicans.

They are holding up the funds by not allowing an up or down vote on an amendment.

Kucinich's puts it on the Dems who vote to cut off funds.

It's easier to spin Kucinich's method as "Dems don't support the troops", and now with this fillibuster it's clear the Repubs aren't willing to allow an amendment to pass that will start to bring the troops home. And now, by holding up this up or down vote, they are holding up the funds themselves. Plus, it shows them for the hypocrites they are since back in the day they were whining about up or down votes and complaining that Dems wanted to fillibuster.

Of course I doubt the M$M will explain it properly.


That's how I see it anyway.

[mikelgb]

2. Kucinich says we should not vote at all.

If you offer no more Iraq funding bills where will the funding come from?

Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid should write a letter to the pResident informing him that the Congress will no loner offer any bills to fund the war and he should use funds appropriated to begin the return of our troops.

They should then immediately hold an emergency presser that will have to cut into prime time TV announcing that our soldiers have victoriously completed their misson in Iraq and the democrats in Congress have ended the war, it is now up to the pResident to safely and expediently bring our troops home to the hero's welcome they deserve.

Announce the day of the welcome home parades.

God Bless America.

the end

[RiverStone]

4. Sounds good from here...

Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid should write a letter to the pResident informing him that the Congress will no loner offer any bills to fund the war and he should use funds appropriated to begin the return of our troops.

YES!!!!

Anybody else other than Dennis see this as a bold way to end the war --- no more votes, no more $$$. :applause:

[EFerrari]

3. DK is more liberal and his job is totally different than Reid's.

Reid has to find a way to move our agenda onto the Senate floor. Dennis is more free to give it voice directly. They compliment each other.