Obsidian Wings: Bush's Pyrrhic Victory

[RobertSeattle]

http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/obsidian_wings/2007/05/bushs_pyrrhic_v.html

The early narrative on the Iraq funding debate is that Democrats "lost" and Bush "won." Sorry, but I don't buy that. People need to view this particular skirmish – and its inevitable, entirely-predictable conclusion – through a longer-term lens. If Bush "won," it's the most Pyrrhic victory of all time.

…the Democrats should stop sulking and be happy with the result – because of their spending bills, the parties are polarized on an issue where the public overwhelmingly and increasingly supports the Democratic position on the war. For this reason, the "capitulation" should instead be a time for offense…

For similar reasons, Bush and the GOP should think twice before celebrating their victory. Very often, people lose sight of the substance of a debate because they get too caught up in the horse race. Sure, in some sense, Bush "won," but what exactly did he win? He successfully obtained blanket authority for endless, escalating war – the one issue that cost the GOP Congress and will likely cost them more in 2008.

[leftupnorth]

1. How is it going to cost the GOP if we vote for it? We're just giving them political cover.

It's going to cost us much more than House seats.

"Hey, the Democrats voted for it, too."

[Raven]

2. How many kids died in Iraq today? n/t

[Karmageddon]

7. And how many more will die before the '08 election?

Any politician of either party that is more worried about being re-elected in 2008 than they are about all the people who will die in the meantime
1) doesn't deserve to be re-elected and
2) is pissing off the people who elected them in the first place.

[stellanoir]

3. thanks for expressing and elucidating a really reasonable response

given what we are up against, it's baby steps for sure. I just wosh they'd focus on the damned voting machines.

Otherwise democracy is toast.

[Brigid]

4. I get your point.

But it's still frustrating. :banghead:

[MadHound]

5. Wow, that is a stretch

The Dems are no closer to stopping this war, the very reason that they were elected, than before last fall's election. Bush has not only the funding he wants, but the secure knowledge that the Dems will cave on funding bills from now until he leaves office. Thus the war continues, eating up lives and resources without end.

Meanwhile, the Dems having once again proven their lack of spine, even with a majority. This is going to alienate many, many of the voters who came together to give them the majority last fall. Thus, their chances for election in '08 have decreased substantially.

Yes, Bush won. And sadly we all have lost, to one degree or another. Don't believe me, just go look at the price for gas. Study what this massive government debt brought about by the war is doing to our economy. Look into the eyes of somebody who has lost their child in this war.

Thanks to both Bush and the Dems, we're all losers.

[depakid]

6. The substance of the debate is that they sold out the minimum wage

which was the only conceivable way to frame this with any sort of silver lining.

What we've just witnessed is despicable conduct, no matter how you rationalize it.

[kenny blankenship]

8. You don't get it. The Democrats just BLURRED their position with the Republican position

They gave it up like they didn't really give a shit about the war--even worse, they gave it up like they are afraid of their own shadows. Which is how the Republicans traditionally vilify them in campaign rhetoric as both unable to protect America from foreign enemies AND as too incompetent and/or disunited as a party to manage the economy and run the government.

It's kind of hard to be happy with an outcome that hands you both a defeat AND makes you look like the pee-pantsed losers your Republican opponents are always calling you.

And come Nov. 08, that clear cold line distinguishing Democrats and Republicans over the war AIN'T GONNA BE THERE ANYMORE. A typical Republican candidate can bash a typical Democrat who's running against the war as a liar and hypocrite: oh you say you're against the failed war in Iraq? The war you voted 4 times to provide funding for? How stupid do you think the voters of our state are, Mr. Democrat?