digby: Backdoor

[babylonsister]

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/09/backdoor-by-digby-defense-secretary.html


Backdoor

by digby


snip//


If they really have 57 votes then there is absolutely no reason for the Senate not to implement the Kleiman strategy* for sure. (And even if there is some unknown reason as to why this strategy wouldn't work, at 57 votes, there is ample reason to force this vote over and over again keeping the spotlight on the plight of the troops.)

They are dragging out the "reasonable" Gates on this because they are actually scared the Dems might make this one happen. And if the Dems play hardball, they could be right. It's very hard to argue that the troops shouldn't get a decent period of time off between deployments, as you can see by Gates' convoluted explanation.

This is one where the Democrats can seize the argument in simple terms if they have the discipline to stick with it. "The troops have been stretched to the breaking point fighting in Iraq for longer than it took us to win WWII. The president refuses to give them the time off between deployments that all the experts say is necessary. We will."

The argument has juice:

Some Democrats believe that the Webb bill, which has support among military families, and from some senior military officers concerned about strains on the troops, may be their best chance yet to entice wavering Republicans...

The Republicans' dilemma was apparent Sunday when Senator John Cornyn, a conservative Texas Republican, was asked on CNN how he would vote on the Webb proposal. "I'm concerned about deployments, lengthy deployments," and their effect on military families, he said - while declining to say how he would vote.

They needn't get into long explanations and shouldn't respond to the notion that it's a backdoor drawdown. Let the Republicans keep making the accusation in public --- preferably over and over again so every single person in the country hears it. Just keep pounding away at the "support the troops" line. It has the virtue of being the right thing on the merits as well. This administration is breaking the military with its inability to get any allies on board with its neocon catastrophe. These repeated deployments without proper respite are causing huge problems. It's not a ploy. Somebody really does have to step in and do something about this.

That it could result in a real drawdown is merely an added inducement.

That is also reveals the Republicans to be complete charlatans in their vaunted great love for the military is frosting on the cakewalk.

[alfredo]

1. I think we should blanket our senators with support for the Webb bill.

[babylonsister]

2. Me, too! nt

[Blackhatjack]

3. I find nothing faulty about the logic here. I think Dems should do it EXACTLY like Digby laid it out

It is high time for the Repubs to be exposed as 'supporters of the troops' in name only.

Plus, as Digby points out so well, it has the added benefit of being the right thing to do.

[babylonsister]

4. I'm becoming a big fan of hers and think she's right on. nt

[Blackhatjack]

5. And Webb is impressive. This was the right thing to do at the right time. n/t