Stupid question...

[tjwash]

The Dems in Congress and the Senate are scared that voting for cutting troop funding to force a withdrawal is political suicide, specially since there are so many Democrats jockeying for position in the primaries. Rove, Cheney, et-al know this, and have been using it to push through their damned escalation. Their cronies in the corporate media have been insinuating since mid January that if congress does not push though the 21000 troop escalation, that it is "proof" that the new Democratic majority in the House "do not support the troops" (I hate that fucking meme, but the repukes are not changing it any time soon).

So, why don't the Dems refuse the escalation anyway? Then draft a proposal that they take every penny that the DOD has drafted up in the budget for the 21000 troop escalation-weapons, ammo, transportation, food, etcetera-that they were going to spend on the escalation itself, and buy the armor, gear, and other necessities that the troops that are already currently dying over there, are short on? That way they can be safer than they are now until they start a phased withdrawal, and bring our sons and daughters home.

Surely anyone who truly "supports the troops" (like the repukes that keep pushing this fucking escalation, instead of ending this illegal occupation) would not object to that. :eyes:

[Mojambo]

1. Way too complicated for most Americans to dig.

Soundbites are all they can stomach.

[tjwash]

5. The Dems seemed to have missed the point...

...that they were handed the House and Senate by a (73%)majority of Americans that want them to put an end to the illegal occupation in the mid east, and to bring our sons and daughters back home where they can get on with their lives. Instead they seem to be grasping for all the political hay that they can. I'm hoping that this is a temporary loss of focus, and that it will correct itself quickly.

Politically, we as well have an opportunity to call all of the repugs on their BS of the last 6 years, as well as make THEM scramble and be on the defensive. Unfortunately, it pains me to see the Democratic primary appears to be destined to go the same direction as the Angelides-Westley debacle of a primary did here in California. We are still a year away from the primaries and the personal attacks among party members, and just the sheer amount of backstabbing going on among the Dems is disheartening to say the least. There is a lot of work that needs to be focused on before the scramble for the white house begins.

[Time for change]

2. That sounds like an excellent suggestion to me

I hope some of our Congresspersons get to see it.

[texastoast]

3. Why don't the Dems refuse escalation?

Oh, they would have to do the right thing and not worry so much about getting reelected.

Your idea is makes sense. Most politicians will run like hell from something that makes sense.

[Lex]

4. Isn't this essentially what Murtha will be proposing?

That all new troops be trained properly (for at least 1 year) and all troops have proper gear and armor before deploying, and have proper time off when coming back home, etc.

This would be funded before money for any surge.