Dems question latest anti-war strategy (members reluctant to vote around Veterans Day)

[sabra]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rank-and-file Democrats expressed dismay on Friday over their party's latest anti-war strategy, with some members reluctant to vote around Veterans Day to bring troops home.

The House was on track to consider legislation next week that would give President Bush $50 billion for operations for Iraq and Afghanistan, but insist that he begin withdrawing troops.

The measure identifies a goal of ending combat by December 2008, leaving only enough soldiers and Marines behind to fight terrorists, train Iraqi security forces and protect U.S. assets.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed off plans for a Friday vote after caucus members told her late Thursday they weren't sure they would support it. Liberal Democrats said the proposal was too soft, while conservative members told Pelosi they thought it went too far.

"I think the message in the next week ought to be that a heck of a lot of people have been harmed (in combat) and we ought to take care of them," said Rep. Gene Taylor, a conservative Mississippi Democrat who says his constituents mostly support the war.



Read more: http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/washington/index.ssf?/base/politics-14/1194655149194750.xml&storylist=washington

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Ah the theatrics and dramatics of doing

FUCKALL

Think of the veterans!

What about the puppies!

The children!

[PSPS]

2. These "democrats" will think up any excuse to avoid doing their jobs.

What next? "We're reluctant to be seen moving against "president 20%" near Christmas/New Years/Valentines Day/4th of July/Full moon/rush's birthday/whatever."

[gratuitous]

3. What better day?

Fer crissakes. Then it'll be because of Thanksgiving. Then Hannukah. Then Christmas. Then New Year's. Then MLK Day. Then Ground Hog Day.

[me b zola]

4. The best way to honor our Veterans is to bring them home...

...and stop using them as fodder.

[neverforget]

5. Any excuse they can think of so they can get out of doing what is right

and what the people want. What a cowardly lot!

[CranialRectaLoopbak]

6. reluctant to vote ...

Why the fuck would we want to vote our troops home near Veterans Day. We want our veterans dead or maimed, otherwise those already dead and maimed will have become so for nothing. Who elects these people? Oh yeah, we do.

Take Pelosi off the table in 2008.
Pelosi made history in 2006. Let's make her history in 2008.
Pelosi is right. Democrats won't vote Republican in 2008. Be we can vote for ANOTHER Democrat in Pelosi's primary.

[NoodleyAppendage]

7. Well, the Dems in Congress have done a slap-up job of reinforcing the stereotype of being wimps.

I constantly have to remind myself of why again that I align myself with a party that has the political and psychological savvy of an emasculated sloth. I always return to the Dems given the alternative, but goddamnit can someone on the Hill slap some sense into Pelosi and maybe return Hoyer to his AIPAC handlers.

J

[PATRICK]

8. This has been another example

of extremely maladroit handling of legislation that makes the Dems as a whole divided and looking bad.
By what mechanics of planning and by whose responsibility are these things happening? I don't reflexively blame any single person. It would take quite a dysfunctional group to keep making these errors.

In this case the timing is almost ideal for such divisions. Planning such divisions wouldn't be exactly clever either. Maybe the input is getting so mixed the leaders not controlling the different factions fro shooting each other in the foot or creating a mess of a plan. Unfortunately, maybe the strength of the leadership is applied to making weak and compromised legislation from the outset. The cautionary path is not for leaders who are not extremely clever and extremely lucky and not opposed by people with more power who are clever as well.

[Demeter]

9. I Could Say It Again, But What's The Use?

They aren't listening, even now when their jobs and reputations depend on it, let alone a nation and the greater world.

The Democratic Congress has no vision, no scope, no breadth, and no clue.