Bloomberg: Democratic Caucus Split By Iraq Troop-Withdrawal Concession

[Greeby]

Democratic Caucus Split by Iraq Troop-Withdrawal Concession

By Nicholas Johnston and Laura Litvan

May 23 (Bloomberg) -- A decision by Democratic leaders in Congress to drop a troop-withdrawal timeline from Iraq war- funding legislation outraged anti-war Democrats and will force the party to depend on Republican support to pass the measure.

Democratic leaders said that they didn't have the votes to overcome a threatened veto of the troop-withdrawal plan and instead will compel President George W. Bush to report on whether Iraq is reaching benchmarks toward ending the war.

Anti-war Democrats criticized the decision. ``We've given everything away,'' Virginia Democrat Jim Moran said. ``It will split the Democratic caucus.''

The House is likely to vote tomorrow on the measure, which provides almost $100 billion in funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan until the next fiscal year begins Sept. 30.

Even House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said that she is ``not likely to vote for something that doesn't have a timetable or a goal of coming home.'' -snip-

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aEOU8nQ6fi_o&refer=home

Includes comments from Lynn Woolsey, Jim McGovern and others.
Irks me a bit that people use the word "Democrats" as if it were a lockstep amorphous mass like the Repukes.

[leftchick]

1. true enough, it is emannuel, hoyer and other

DLC/centrists doing this. I respect the handful of liberal anti-war democrats in congress.

[PFunk]

2. I think this will hurt the dems bigtime in the future

The commited the worst rule in politics "Never turn your back on your base". And the Dems did that big time. I see alot of grass-roots dems either staying home in 2008, or racially pushing 'real' progressives. While more people die in a war that now the repugs can blame part of this war on the dems.

[papau]

3. If they get 60 Dem votes in the House I'll be surprised- reminds one of the 50's and "Southern" Dems

n/t

[On the Road]

4. Well That Will be Fascinating

then it's back to the drawing board again.

[Purveyor]

5. K&R

:kick: