Democrats frame State of Union response

[babylonsister]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070123/ap_on_go_co/state_of_union_democrats

Democrats frame State of Union response

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Emboldened congressional Democrats are doing their best to drown out
President Bush's State of the Union speech with two themes: Sending more troops to
Iraq is not a new strategy, and the president and his Republican allies are no longer solely in charge of national policy.

"I don't particularly view this surge program as a change in strategy at all," said freshman Democratic Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia, the Vietnam veteran chosen to deliver his party's response to Bush's speech Tuesday night.

"I don't see it as strategic, other than perhaps politically strategic," Webb said in a conference call Monday with reporters. "It's just a lot more flailing around rather than coming up with something specific that's going to end our involvement and bring better stability to the region."

Democrats delivered that same message when Bush unveiled his plan two weeks ago. In recent days, party leaders have amplified to assert that Democrats with their newly won majority in both houses of Congress intend to play an equal role with Bush in shaping national policy.

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[sendero]

1. In Jim Webb...

... I see a senator who might someday end the inability of senators to get elected to the presidency.

His simple statement of fact is something that so few politicians can manage, it's astounding.