Now that Bush Removed All Doubt About His Plans Last Night, What Will Democrats Do? (Give it a Shot)

[Blackhatjack]

So Bush has just shattered any pretense that he might be listening to sane military, political, and governmental advisors, regarding our troops in Iraq.

NOW WHAT?

The baton is firmly in the hands of the Democrats. WIll THEY RUN WITH IT?

[LiberalEsto]

1. Are you kidding?

It will be business as usual.

[NightWatcher]

2. Thank you sir may I have another

Unfortunately I fear that they will not do anything. Please prove me wrong guys.

[ananda]

3. They'll cave like an Arizona mine.

nt

[FormerDittoHead]

4. What else? KEEP THEIR POWDER DRY! n/t

[Toots]

5. They are all in a corner cowering and sniveling

What can they do, they say, they are so few and the big bad Republicans will say they don't love America...Isn't there a bridge they can name or something?

[BlueJac]

14. I agree.............

Some are under their beds peeking out to see who is coming after them........OMG, where did America go?

[babylonsister]

6. I'm a bit more optimistic after hearing Senator Reed's response.

I think there's gonna be a fight!

[NightWatcher]

9. I couldnt hear his response. He put me to sleep

They didnt do anything when Jim Webb gave the response to the State of the Union, so I doubt that Sleepy Reed will get the juices flowing.

[TwilightGardener]

12. I thought he did very well, and I do think Chimpy has crossed the

line with the PERMANENT WAR strategy. He's in for a fight, even among Repubs, I'll bet.

[leftchick]

38. it sure does not look like a fight from this...

more like capitulation again...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/09/13/dems-consider-new-tools-t_n_64351.html

<snip>

Sources have told the Huffington Post that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, and others are considering an amendment setting a firm April 2008 deadline for withdrawing all troops from Iraq. Such a measure would likely die in the Senate - it fell seven votes short of the filibuster-proof 60-vote minimum last summer - but is designed to satisfy anti-war factions. Democratic leadership would then pursue compromise legislation calling for an immediate drawdown of U.S. troops with "goals" for future withdrawals.

"The feeling I get is that Reid doesn't really know what to do," said one senior Senate aide. "They have to put the strong deadline just to appease the base. But the real hope is to try to get Sens. Collins, R-MN, and Warner, R-VA, and all the different factions together to get the 60 votes."

In a similar vein, the Huffington Post has learned that Senate Democrats are considering a bill that would appropriate funds solely for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. The provision, introduced previously in the House by Rep. Jim McGovern, D-MA, is meant to sidestep criticism that undermined earlier bills restricting war funds.

"A lot of members won't vote for amendments that appear to cut funding for troops for the field," said John Isaacs, Executive Director of the non-profit, Council for a Livable World. "The theory is... if you turn it around and offer money for a withdrawal it might not give off the appearance that it's somehow undermining the troops."

Complicating these proposals, however, is a fear among some Democrats that General Petraeus, in his testimony on Capitol Hill, won President Bush the political capital he needed to hold force levels in Iraq steady until they are naturally drawn down next summer.

[cali]

7. Alas, they'll send him a watered down

bill with no timeline. And almost as troubling is that even those who will vote against it, and I can count at least 10 in the Senate, and many more in the House, won't really speak out, and they certainly won't issue any kind of unified statement, all because they don't want the party to look fractured.

Imagine if Boxer, Kennedy, Kerry, Leahy, Sanders, Feingold and 35 or so House members held a presser on the capitol steps, explaining to the country why it's vital not to oppose a weak do nothing bill funding the war.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

8. Nothing

They won't use their constitutional right to check this president and pull the war funding. They're cowards. They want to make a lot of noise, get a lot of money for their election "war" chests, get a lot of votes, and win their next election. I don't think most of them really care about the troops any more than the Republicans.

I am VERY cynical, as you can see.

[snappyturtle]

23. I think you've made a good point. They are always working on

their funding for their elections. There is something we can do about that. I plan to write congress critters today and tell them either stand up to the president or there will be no funding for their campaigns and no vote....what else can we do?

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[midlife_mo_Jo]

24. Thanks for the welcome!

I'm quite cynical about the whole political process these days, unfortunately.

[snappyturtle]

33. I think you'll find many here who agree. How do you like DU? nt

[midlife_mo_Jo]

35. I like it

I've lurked for months.

I think some people think I'm a freeper because I have a different perspective on some things. haha

[snappyturtle]

36. Differences are what keeps life interesting....be strong!!! nt

[liberalmuse]

10. They'll be absolutely indignant and give a couple press conferences...

and then they'll give him all the money he asks for in order to continue his endless war. I figure they must be gaining something by not doing anything to stop this war. They're certainly not gaining any favorability points.

[ShortnFiery]

11. Well, if they don't DO SOMETHING, I will not feel beholden to vote for DLCers or Blue Dogs come 2008

:shrug:

[BlueJac]

13. They will do the same as Bush.......

Make some weak statements and stay the course. I have totally given up on my Washington State Senators and Rep. Brian Baird. These people have ignored my attempts to contact them. It is time for some serious house cleaning.

Either you are with us or you are against us! I must of heard that somewhere.

[rateyes]

15. They will stay the course,

which means writing another blank check.

[TankLV]

16. Keep their powder dry - got to try to avoid repuke criticism at all cost ya know...

Prove me wrong, please, Dems in congress...PLEASE!!!

[The Stranger]

17. Lube the baton, pull down their pants, and grab their ankles.

[TankLV]

18. Wow - so far 100% believe they have lost their spines PERMANENTLY!

truly amazing - awfully amazing...

sad, very sad...

[Blackhatjack]

19. I must admit I am surprised that DUers are so pessimistic ...

Members of Congress do pay attention to constituents and factors that affect their chances of being reelected.

We need to be less pessimistic and more active in our efforts to urge Congress to act. If we give up, we will get exactly the same thing we have been getting.

[bunkerbuster1]

21. Hey, I wrote my Gooper "representative", asking for some sanity.

I wish everyone with a Gooper "representing" them would do at least that much.

I'm certainly not giving up.

[The Stranger]

25. The Democratic Leadership has allowed the GOP to turn them against their Base.

It is a failure of leadership of breathtaking proportions. It can only be because of some quid pro quo offered them beyond politics.

[MadHound]

28. Why are you so suprised?

Let's take a look at the record for the past few years. Caved in to starting the Iraq war, caved on the Patriot Act, caved in to NCLB, bankruptcy bill, etc. etc. ad nauseum. Now when they actually have to power of the purse and the power to stop this war, they aren't using it. I think that this "pessimism that you see is actually an accurate reflection of what the Dems will actually do, dick around, do nothing except mouth pious platitudes and play politics with peoples' lives.

I don't see pessimism here, I see realism. It's sad when one's deep cynism and pessimism is surpassed by the reality of the situation.

[Blackhatjack]

29. If the 'pessimism' I see expressed here is actually 'realism' then let's 'fold tent and go home"...

Nothing left to do here, it is just 'realism' and we should not beat our head against the wall, let's go home.

I just thought DUers are one of the most active groups who are constantly pushing Congress to act on their interests. Was I wrong?

[Hell Hath No Fury]

31. Some of us have reason to be.

During the lead-up to the IWR vote, my Senator was hit with a blizzard of faxes, phones call, and emails demanding she vote against it. She fully admitted that she had heard her constituents and they had said, vigously, NO to the invasion of Irag.

And then she proceeded to vote "yea" on the resolution.

Now, you tell me why should I have ANY faith that DiFi will ever listen to what her constituents want?

Sadly, this is the story around the country too often.

[Blackhatjack]

34. Just because you failed to convince a rep to vote correctly once is no reason to give up....

Major changes do not often occur overnight, but rather after a longer period of time.

We have changed the opinion of voters in this country about the War in Iraq, and it did not happen overnight. It time, and perserverence to change their minds.

I really am not critical of DUers on this, because I believe the majority at DU have not given up. THey are just impatient that it is taking so long to make the obvious clear to Congress.

[bunkerbuster1]

20. Keep hoping that a few more sane Republicans will join them.

They'll compromise and compromise and come up with a really sucky war authorization bill that kinda sorta strongly suggests troop pullouts a little faster than Bush would like, but not really.

It will pass. Bush will sign it. Congress' credibility will sink lower.

Ok, I hope this doesn't play out this way, but why assume otherwise?

[KoKo]

22. He's now scraped his leavings on Dems plate... It will be Vietnam Redux..

many of us here knew that but we had hoped lessons had been learned. They weren't, it seems. Dems have bought into that "weak on defense" thing and it seems they must constantly keep trying to prove that they aren't. Decades of that... Some of us have to wonder why that is... Constant war with enemies seems to be easier to deal with than dealing with the issues we Dems always run on "Jobs, Health Care, Environment & Education"....but somehow don't quite get around to dealing with what we run on ..only the distractions that are thrown our way.

[radfringe]

26. nothing of substance, cry alot

about not having votes, and name a post office after someone

[LibDemAlways]

27. Considering what they've done thus far to end this war,

regretfully, nothing.

[leftofthedial]

30. excerpt from "democratic" leaders presser: "The president wants multiple generations ...

"This is horribly disappointing. Based on Saint Petraeus' testimony this week, I think we should maintain a strong military presence in Iraq for no more than one generation, two tops. In fact, to curb the president's profligate waste of American lives and treasure, I have introduced legislation today authorizing the expenditure of 300 trillion dollars of supplemental Iraq funding over a 45-year period. This will end the outrageous plans of some in our government to stay in Iraq for 46--or even 47!--years. In order to ensure that the president has the tools he needs to succeed in this struggle, I have also attached an amendment authorizing the president to invade any home in America any time he wants and drink all the beer in the refrigerator, without the necessity of a warrant or a declaration of martial law. It is time for meaningful change in America and my bill is a big step toward that goal. The "democratic" party is the party of change!"

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

32. Whine and accept their "Good Doggy" treats.

And tell the public how necessary it is to compromise by funding the slaughter.

[TahitiNut]

41. I don't think they'll get treats.

The training is virtually complete, so treats aren't needed for reinforcement anymore.

They respond to the rolled-up newspaper behind Dick's back quite nicely.

[Yukari Yakumo]

37. They're stuck between Iraq and a hard place...

One, there isn't enough public support to cut off funding outright. Plus there's no guarantee the Chimpenfurher would bring them home anyway. (Actually, I doubt he would, funding or no funding.)

Two, the Dems likely don't have the votes to over-ride the Chimpenfurher's veto.

So what do they do?

[Disturbed]

39. The y could procrastinate on sending a funding Bill.

They could keep making excuses, which they are good at, as to why they haven't been able to craft a new funding Bill for the Fiasco.

[Individualist]

40. Complain, then fold like origami when it's time to vote on funding

[LostInAnomie]

42. 1. Fire off a strongly worded letter.

2. Vote for whatever the fuck Bush wants.
3. Pat themselves on the back for not bowing to "political extremists".
4. Bitch about the "loony left", "bloggers". and "moveon.org crowd" being pissed at them for bending over and taking it again.