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Sell-Out Democrats »
Posted by: populist 2 years, 6 months agoTaking over the Congress on a wave of popular revulsion at the twin catastrophes in Iraq and Afghanistan, Democrats could have issued immediate calls for an end to those wars, a return of the troops, and investigations into the criminal causes of those costly fiascos. They could have initiated efforts to halt further funding for war as well...
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populist
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Comments: 339
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ind06
Dec. 23, 2006, 11:02 a.m.I think it's important to remember that although the Democrats have made appeasing statements vis-a-vis the war, they have not yet actually taken over in the Congress and Senate so it remains to be seen what their true actions on Iraq will be.
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populist
Dec. 23, 2006, 11:08 a.m.yes, absolutely - we must wait and see. But, also, not be too forgiving to the party that voted for war, continues to vote for its funding, voted for the patriot act, voted for the military commissions act, and the like.
It's many of the same faces there - let's hope the new ones change course.
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jehovahjones
Dec. 24, 2006, 12:45 a.m.too bad we didn't do it nine months before your birth... I would guess your mom did it at eight months; I hear the last month is when the gray matter forms.
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tonystubblebine
Dec. 23, 2006, 11:17 a.m.I tell my representitives all the time that their cowardness is wasting the lives of thousands of heroes who've volunteered to protect us. Who's going to volunteer now that they've seen the corruption of the Repuplicans and the spinelessness of the Democrats?
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jehovahjones
Dec. 23, 2006, 11:29 p.m.the word is 'cowardliness'...
and the word 'heroes' is here, like so many places, misused. it does not describe ignorant, desparate children who will make a huge mess of whatever they touch.
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Amazing1
Dec. 23, 2006, 11:22 a.m.The Democrats MUST stop the war, impeach the Chimp in Charge as well as Shotgun Dickie if the expect to gain my respect. They have been whining that they don't want to appear venegeful. It may lose them votes in 2008. Well, guess what, Dems: Your job is to uphold the Constitution. First and foremost. And if you don't get that idiot out of the White House, there is no telling what other damage to the Constitution will incur, what additional losing wars he will get us into and how much more respect we will lose globally. We ain't got that much left.
The Shrub is a sick puppy in need of intensive de-programming. His biggest talent is the bald-faced lie. He pays no attention to what anyone else has to say. He denies the truth when it is right in front of his face.
To those who claim it is unpatriotic not to support your president, I say it is unpatriotic to support an imposter in the White House.
Impeachment NOW!! Vigilence Forever!!
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Athena82487
Dec. 23, 2006, 10:16 p.m."No one in a decision making position over 30. And all ex military."
You're kidding, right? That has to be one of the dumbest things I've ever heard regarding government.
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bill-smith
Dec. 24, 2006, 2:35 a.m.What in the heck are you blathering about? Really. Who's been in charge the past 12 years or so?
Get a clue, grow up, and let's see if we can make our country work by working together.
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ETproductions
Dec. 23, 2006, 11:32 a.m.A letter writing campaign can do wonders. E-mails do a bit, but politicians know that for every one person angry enough to put pen to paper and send a snail mail, there are at least 10,000 who feel the same way but don't bother to write. Just a few thousand letters represents a huge pool of public sentiment. Kind of empowers those of us who are literate enough to write our representatives.
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uncle-dave
Dec. 23, 2006, 11:59 a.m.Snail mail does seem like a good idea. All snail mail must now be sent to a center to be irradiated, because of the anthrax attack, it will get there but not in a timely fashion. I remembered hearing Bill Frist talking about this at a news conference. It's almost as if they use this proceedure to isolate themselves from having to hear from the public. Imagine that.
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ameliog
Dec. 23, 2006, 1:14 p.m.I've tried the snail mail approach many times. My state is pure red so contrary opinion is ignored because there is no consequence for doing so. If I receive a reply at all from my elected Reps/Senators, it's always just a form letter restating their position that I was disagreeing with. It's like talking to a brick wall.
So snail mail might be more effective than email, but probably only in areas where there's enough diversity to make the elected official pay attention.
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ETproductions
Dec. 24, 2006, 1:13 a.m.I'm not. I am rather under the opinion that if we ever see that this government is trying to hijack our freedom, 50,000,000 armed Americans will flood the streets and the Army and National Guard will JOIN them. Rather than just writing it off, I am believing I can make a difference. How much good can one man do when he decides not to believe that?
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Spadecaller
Dec. 23, 2006, 11:42 a.m.We are certainly better off having ousted the Republicans from power, although that doesn't say the mandates of the people's choices will reign supreme during this next Democrat - controlled Congress.
Most of us know that many Democrats have their pockets open to the lobbyists too -- that the will of the American people will often take a back seat in the affairs of 'OUR' government.
Nonetheless, WE must not underestimate the will of the people to raise our voices and to stand up against the war, against the abuses of our fundamental freedoms, and against those that obstruct the democratic process.
As never before in American history since the Revolutionary War, we are more becoming a nation united under one basic tentant: the laws of our democracy need to be restored.
Most of the vast majority of Americans share that same sentiment. PEACE!
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ETproductions
Dec. 24, 2006, 1:17 a.m.Don't ever forget that the "vast unwashed majority" in America is well armed and willing to fight for their freedom. Thank the Lord that's so. And the Armed Services are full of that "vast unwashed majority" to boot. Don't be so quick to just cede your freedoms to the cowardly.
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bubba2
Dec. 23, 2006, 11:46 a.m.If you can't go to the demonstration discussed in the article (I wish I could), you can write the Congressmen and Senators. For sure you should write YOUR representatives, but you can write ANY of them.
This site makes it very easy to send emails or special delivery letters to members of Congress. It has a 'form' that can be used, ON the site, to email anyone in D.D. --
https://ssl.capwiz.com/congressorg/home/
When the 110th congress starts up, I plan on writing MY Senators and Congressman, and I also plan to write Pelosi, Reid, Boxer, Conyers, Slaughter, and several others - about several issues as summed up in this article. Hopefully some of you can do the same.
As the old cliche goes, about chicken soup for a cold, -- "It may not help, but it can't hurt!"
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ETproductions
Dec. 23, 2006, noonDon't forget writing the MSM either. If a dozen people send letters to the editor at a main stream media outlet, chances are VERY good that at least one letter will get published. SO even if they don't choose to publish yours, know that it affected their understanding of public sentiment.
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jordan11
Dec. 23, 2006, 12:48 p.m.Much said in the article about democrats not stopping pmt. for this 'war'. Dang, they haven't even taken power yet! Nothing said about the CON Congress passing emergency funds for this 'war' before their session ended. You can't stop what's already done. Nothing said about Congress not having the 'power' to stop this war. All they can do is pressure bush.
And where did this idea come from that democrats would just pack up the troops and leave Iraq? It came from CONS, with their 'cut n run' BS rhetoric. This isn't a here today and gone tomorrow proposition. Democrats know that. Any thinking person knows that. Bush had one narrow view of fighting this 'war.' It isn't working. He refused to change his simple minded approach. NOW we see dialogue. NOW we see more than a 'few' having access to that dialogue. NOW the American people will be included in that dialogue. NOW we'll see a more total picture of what we face, and from there can decide the best approach to finish this.
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Beau7890
Dec. 23, 2006, 10:04 p.m.Actually, no. If you cut the funding off, the War Department will still try to fight the war, and those who cut the funding off will be widely painted (and possibly rightly so) as abandoning the troops.
But if Congress has the sole Constitutional power to declare war (even if they don't use it), then it can revoke that declaration. Which forces the troops to come home immediately, without reducing the ability to get necessities like armor and food for them.
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Chelxorz
Dec. 23, 2006, 12:58 p.m.The Democrats should not be blamed for not being able to immediately fix what Bush has spent years royally f**king up. You can't just snap your fingers and make something like this alright. I'm glad they haven't halted funding or pulled all of our troops out. I don't think anyone wants extremists in Congress, whether from the left or from the right.
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LeftTurn
Dec. 24, 2006, noonHmmm, and how long have the repubs had a majority in the house and Senate?? It's a miracle we got as much done as we did, like balancing the budget, raising minimum wage and tax cut's for the middle guys. Those were real results for real Americans. Your hair brained neocon managed to TOTALLY SCREW UP 8 years of recovery and advancements in this country, while setting us back ten years to recover from this crap. You are going to be wishing one day all we had on Bush was a BJ...
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jehovahjones
Dec. 24, 2006, 12:47 a.m.... so that's your excuse? your teacher?
well, it's better than nothing, I suppose...
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bill-smith
Dec. 24, 2006, 2:47 a.m.Where does all this vitriol and hatred come from? What is it in your past that makes you so bitter and hateful? I shudder to think of the many ways that you must have been personally wronged to have such a low regard for your fellow humans.
I hope in this season of love and charity, of giving and caring you come to find a small amount of personal peace.
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jehovahjones
Dec. 23, 2006, 3:29 p.m.thanks.
those are interesting links. hope more people read these stories.
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white-pawn
Dec. 23, 2006, 3:07 p.m.You can't trust either party to do the will of the people. We should keep on these newly elected officials and continuously remind them why we put them there.
"The price of freedom is constant vigilance".
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jehovahjones
Dec. 23, 2006, 3:30 p.m.I couldn't agree more. I think Pelosi has already put me on some sort of hitlist for my many letters to her since September.
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jordan11
Dec. 23, 2006, 5:18 p.m.You can't trust either party to do the will of the people. We should keep on these newly elected officials and continuously remind them why we put them there.>>>>>
Of course; however, where the democrats are concerned, they have to do something first before anyone can access if they're on or off track. That will surface in January, which is why these op ed pieces before the fact are ridiculous.
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lfergie812
Dec. 23, 2006, 3:17 p.m.This article brings to mind of the recent request by the Pentagon and the president for an increase of 99 billion dollars to the Iraqi war budget. If the democrat congress fail to give the increase the republicans will say that the democrats are soft on the war and that's the reason that this war failed but if the democrats approve the increase in the budget, the republican will say that the democrats are the cause of the excessive national debt.
They should be aggressive and demand to be shown where the money has been spent and why they need more. Put the Pentagon on the defensive and justify the need for more money.
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lfergie812
Dec. 23, 2006, 5:17 p.m.Keep up the wishful thinking. It'll help you keep your sanity for the next 2 years. LMAO
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jehovahjones
Dec. 24, 2006, 1:02 a.m.a bare minimum? hmmm... well, you're still here, so I'd have to say that, despite all the other casualties, I'd be prepared to see that number increase by one.
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lfergie812
Dec. 23, 2006, 5:31 p.m."*Now, you know the author can't be stupid enough to believe the crap he is spewing here. Makes you wonder what his real agenda is. Just saying anything that pops into his empty little head, or something more sinister?"
Now those words fit you to a tee. What is your motive because even the presidents committee to study the war have said that we are losing the war. Are you one of those in a state of denial??
If we were to spend the money that has been spent on this war on domestic energy projects, we would probably not need the oil that they are fighting for now.
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bobshotme
Dec. 23, 2006, 3:46 p.m.They'd be sell out democrats and sell out Americans IF they called the troops home.
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lfergie812
Dec. 23, 2006, 5:38 p.m.Something has to be done and the village idiot in the White House doesn't have a clue. He won't even listen to his own party.
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eddie107
Dec. 23, 2006, 3:56 p.m.I dont want to say I told you so, I want something done. I dont care who does it, there needs to be a plan of action and it needs to get serious.
We bagged another big leader this week, and we need to keep focus on the people who are initiating the violence. That is a very surgical proceedure that takes finese, but if we put enough pressure on the clerics that promote violence, and everyone at that level and above, they will start to change their tone.
It doesnt matter if they have killed by their own hands, if they promote it, demote them to oblivion.
You go Froggy!!
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m-simon
Dec. 23, 2006, 7:44 p.m.Iran is financing the civil war:
http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2006/12/cuttin
In the hopes of taking over Iraq when we leave.
I'm not sure Iranian control of Iraq is a good idea.
We have bad choices and worse choices.
Which has sobered the Dems.
http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2006/12/soberi
Some think that Rove's losses in Nov '06 were a strategy to make the Dems own the war.
Accidental or on purpose, it is working.
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Dave53
Dec. 23, 2006, 4:07 p.m.Dems told the big lie to win elections. The record, there's isn't any better on corruption, economy, social benefits, or anything else, except promises. Open your minds, look at the real facts. The dems bought the election with the war. But, no one really wants the war, some just see a duty and do it. Others use the public fear and rhetoric to garner favor. Sorry, there is a real world out there. It's something like the laws of thermo. You can't win, you can't break even, and you can't get out of the game. You can only do your best. If the dems gain the administration next election, see just how well they keep their promises. They haven't in my lifetime. At least none that mattered to the nation.
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Lurch
Dec. 23, 2006, 4:41 p.m.I`m sorry but the reason the Dems won is because America woke up to the Republican big lie(s).
We have looked at the facts and there`s no doubt the Bush admin has lied to us time after time. Meanwhile, their policies are failures, hundreds of thousands are dead in our name, we`re racing as fast as Bush can drive us deeper into debt, and this admin is totally clueless as to how to end the war. In fact, it is clear to anyone paying attention that the only reason we are still in Iraq, an unwinnable war militarily, is to put off an exit until Bush can find a way to make it look like he was a `victorious war president`. Thousands continue to die just because the cons cannot admit they failed and refuse to accept responsibility for their words and actions.
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Lurch
Dec. 23, 2006, 4:12 p.m.This story is totally wrong.
The Bush admin f`ed up by sinking the Iraq Study Group. If it would have taken this bipartisan study in even half of its recommendations, the Dems would have been sucked in and had to take some of the credit for an iraqi turn-around or even `victory`.
The Bush admin has made a colossal error in ignoring the American people and this bipartisan study. Now, their solution is to send more troops which is what the military and the Dems have been saying since before it began. Only lately, now that the military has stated plainly that there is no military way to win, the Dems and others have changed their minds. Unfortunately, the Reps are so stubborn and so out-of-touch, they`re only now starting to listen to what the experts were saying years ago.
Too bad for the cons, this is still 100% Bush`s War and Bush failure.
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m-simon
Dec. 23, 2006, 8:02 p.m.Yeah. Like fixing the Israeli-Palestinian thing as Baker suggests is the first priority and will fix Iraq.
Like the fighting in Iraq is in support of the Palestinian cause?
In any case who does Israel negotiate with? Fatah which only has Abbas? Or Hamas which refuses to uphold previous agreements or recognize Israel?
Or do we have to wait until the Palestinian Civil War is over?
On top of that just to cover all bases the Baker Boys said more troops may be needed.
Bush and the Dems can pick and choose and say they followed the most feasible of the Baker Boys' reccommendations.
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cliffclark
Dec. 23, 2006, 4:34 p.m.Okay first off, does anyone actually STUDY Politics/Political Science and how our Goverment works or do they enjoy spewing out unintelligent garbage?
While the Democrats could have called for the end of the wars, they'd have had ZERO power to enforce it because they don't even OFFICIALLY take power until January when Congress returns from break. THAT is when I imagine calls will be made for change and at least, tried to be enforced. BUT, remember, Bush has said and proven, he does not need or desire approval from Congress to continue the wars. Being the ever arrogant nazistic twink that he is, I've no doubt he will continue to ignore everyone's advice on the matter and do what he thinks he should. (Which is most often the wrong thing) I mean even General casey and his number two General in charge of his forces in Iraq stated more troops might only "complicate" the matter instead of improve. Did he listen to them? Colon Powell or any of the dozen Generals forced...cont
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m-simon
Dec. 23, 2006, 8:19 p.m.The Rs and Ds will get together and vote more money for Iraq and Bush will get his Baker reccommended troop surge.
Then will come Iran.
The Democrats elected a bunch of DINOs to the House. It is how they won the South.
And then there is Smokin' Joe to shore up support for the war in the Senate.
Face it - Republicans won the election. Some of them just call themselves Democrats.
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cliffclark
Dec. 23, 2006, 4:37 p.m.of the dozen Generals forced into retirement since the war began? Nope. So what makes anyone think that he will listen to the democrats. If anything I fully expect him to do the opposite so that in 2008 the Republicans can point to the Dems and go "see we told you they wouldn't do anything"
In short, I expect the democrats to make sweeping changes within the Country yes, but as for foriegn affairs/wars, until Bush is gone, get used to war.
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cliffclark
Dec. 23, 2006, 4:43 p.m.Lurch dude, the Democrats have not even been close to calling for MORE troops, niether have the American people. I can only imagine you left out a word or two because you can't have messed up that bad. Every poll across the Country now says American's want a gradual withdrawal to BEGIN. Not MORE troops. Dems have been BEGGING for a pullout not more troops and the Bipartisan study did NOT call for MORE troops overall, it called for more troops in certain sectors and less elsewhere. And called for a gradual withdrawal in time. The areas it called for more troops or rather for troops to be pulled from other areas, is in training and to be put in Bagdad itself. Specifically they wanted more troops to not only be made available to train Iraqies but to be mixed in with Iraqy units to give them live training.
Bush flat out ignored the studies advice yes. But why is anyone surprised?
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DoubleEdgedSword
Dec. 23, 2006, 6:27 p.m.Interestingly enough, the writer doesn't show he has any more sense of consequence than the administration he wishes to prosecute. For what would happen in Iraq, say, if there was an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces? Would war over there suddenly end? My guess is that it would get way worse, as Sunni and Shi'ite factions ramp up their respective jihads against one another, once they don't have the U.S. troops to contend with. And this will most likely pull Iran into direct conflict with the Saudis.
Bringing the troops home now, as the op ed writer advocates, would be the most brutally Malthusian tactic we could deploy, at this point. Or does he really think those unfortunate souls suffering over there will be any safer with neighborhoods being policed by Mahdi guerrillas instead of American soldiers and Marines?
Next thing you know, he'll be calling for U.S. intervention, sometime after our troops have left, to "stop genocide".
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joemont
Dec. 23, 2006, 7 p.m.Amen!!!
They are over there and not here. BTW, friend in London tells me that in the UK they are scared to death than another attack is coming soon to that nation.
Speaking of "genocide" how's the vaunted UN doing with things in Darfur (sp) these days? I can't find anything about that situation. Seems to have dropped off the Media's radar. Why?
Go Jayhawks!!!
(:>)
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