Democrats: Bill reflects voters' demands

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

The Democrats' plan to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq next year responds to voters' demand for change, New Hampshire Rep. Paul Hodes said Saturday.

Hodes and other House Democrats on Friday pushed through a rebuke of President Bush and the war in Iraq. Bush promised a veto of the spending bill, which demands combat operations end before September 2008 — and perhaps earlier.

"With our vote this week, we're helping our troops, protecting our veterans, and fighting to end the waste, fraud and abuse," said Hodes, delivering the Democrats' weekly radio address. "After four years of a failed policy, Democrats are insisting on a new direction in Iraq and a real plan that holds the Iraqi people accountable for their own country."

Hodes, elected in November, was part of the Democratic takeover of both chambers of Congress. He has opposed the war and any efforts to escalate it.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070324/ap_on_go_co/democrats_hodes_1

[mike_c]

1. what do they hope to achieve between now and 2008?

Their political cowardice is astounding!

[VegasWolf]

2. Another 2,000 dead Americans? nt

[Contrite]

3. Another few billion dollars for Halliburton et al.

And the completion of their bases and embassy.

[rodeodance]

6. Pelosi got what she could from 400 plus congresscritters----I was hoping

for more----but so many have bought into the ----support the troops means to fund them--that it would be political suicide for her to get more at this time.

[mike_c]

8. so democrats continue to be complicit in war crimes against Iraq...

...because it is politically risky to do the right thing. Let's at least call it by its name.

[sandnsea]

25. Did you call and ask them?

Here's the ones we couldn't even get to vote yes because there was a date at all, let alone immediate withdrawal. Are you saying they all voted due to politics?? It's not possible none of these people voted their convictions, or the convictions of their constituents?? Do you even KNOW what concerns any of the people living in these districts?? Did anybody ever bother to organize in these districts and tell these voters the truth, instead of hounding Congressmen who are already on our side??? The entire Oregon Dem contingent voted for the bill, which is actually more politically risky than not. And it's all just politics to you?

John Barrow
Georgia
http://barrow.house.gov/

Dan Boren
Oklahoma
http://www.house.gov/boren/

Lincoln Davis
Tennessee
http://www.house.gov/lincolndavis/

Jim Marshall
Georgia
http://jimmarshall.house.gov/#

Jim Matheson
Utah
http://www.house.gov/matheson/

Gene Taylor
Mississippi
http://www.house.gov/genetaylor/index.shtm

[w4rma]

26. Some people have nothing but discontent and are unable/unwilling to support folks

who they supposedly agree with.

[ryanmuegge]

28. Yeah, just like they voted for the war initially because it was politically risky not to.

If they were voting based on their "conscience," they would have voted for it on principle in the first place.

[cali]

4. I agree with Hodes. n/t

[DanWithAngel]

5. then why the billions in pork to pass it?

throwing all that crap in there is embarrassing. at least it is to me. it makes it hard to boast upon it with a clear conscience.

[Rose Siding]

7. To gain support from those who wouldn't have without it.

Or would it be better to have no bill at all, which was the alternative?

[DanWithAngel]

10. it would be better if it stood on its own

parlor tricks or other shenanigans should not have been needed.

[Rose Siding]

11. It wouldn't have passed and that would not have been better

I agree it shouldn't have been needed. Pelosi did what she had to do to get it passed.

[BrokenBeyondRepair]

9. which voters?

[Omaha Steve]

12. Democrats Say Bill Demanding Combat Operations End in 2008 Is Meant to Keep Pressure on Iraqis

Source: AP

Democrats Say Bill Demanding Combat Operations End in 2008 Is Meant to Keep Pressure on Iraqis

03-24-2007 7:34 PM

WASHINGTON (Associated Press) -- The Democrats' plan to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq next year responds to voters' demand for change, New Hampshire Rep. Paul Hodes said Saturday.

Hodes and other House Democrats on Friday pushed through a rebuke of President Bush and the war in Iraq. Bush promised a veto of the spending bill, which demands combat operations end before September 2008 _ and perhaps earlier.

"With our vote this week,we're helping our troops, protecting our veterans, and fighting to end the waste, fraud and abuse," said Hodes, delivering the Democrats' weekly radio address. "After four years of a failed policy, Democrats are insisting on a new direction in Iraq and a real plan that holds the Iraqi people accountable for their own country."


Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., right, discusses House approval of a spending bill, Friday, March 23, 2007, on Capitol Hill in Washington, which sets a deadline for U. S. troops to leave Iraq. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif.,left, and House Majority Whip James Clyburn of S.C., look on. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)

Hodes, elected in November, was part of the Democratic takeover of both chambers of Congress. He has opposed the war and any efforts to escalate it.

Read more: http://omaha.cox.net/cci/newsnational/national?_mode=view&_state=maximized&view=article&id=D8O2S7FO1&_action=validatearticle

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. How is more money for the war

helping our troops?

Funny me. I thought bringing them home would be the most obvious way to help them.

[bemildred]

14. Just so you know ...

We are going to have to throw a whole bunch more of these weasels out of office before we get any real movement on ending the war and ending all this waste of money on imperial pretensions and military boondoggles.

[Frances]

16. What a clever idea!

Just one question: how do you propose to accomplish this?

[bemildred]

19. Elections. nt

[Solly Mack]

15. I have a real problem with any framing from anyone that puts the

onus for America's criminal invasion and occupation of a country on the victim - a country that didn't do jack shit to provoke such a heinous and despicable act.

It's not up to the Iraqis when America withdraws.

It has never been up to the Iraqis and it never will be up to the Iraqis

Inherent in such framing is the mind numbing lie that America had a legitimate reason for invading Iraq - that America somehow did Iraq a favor in the doing - that Iraq had a choice in any of it.

America decided to invade a country for lies
America decided to overthrow a government for lies
America decided to disband that country's military
America decided to torture
America decided to illegally detain
America picked the so-called interim government
America decided how that country's resources would be used
America decided it all...

So America will withdraw when America decides to withdraw

and America needs to stop LYING by pretending that Iraq had a choice in any of it.

[w4rma]

17. I do too, but it is a valid foreign policy tactic and it better resonates with people who might

otherwise consider voting Republican.

[Solly Mack]

18. It's as valid as any lie is I guess

And it is a lie that will come home to roost one day

[Seabiscuit]

21. This supposedly "valid foreign policy tactic"

caused 2 Republicans to vote in its favor and 14 Democrats to vote against it. That "resonates" like a hollow space in these parts. Those who support it may as well declare: "Mission Accomplished" and parade around an aircraft carrier deck in a jumpsuit.

[w4rma]

27. No. Some of the 14 voted against, because the deadline was set so far into the future.

I don't know which of the 14 voted against, yet, because there was a deadline at all.

[Seabiscuit]

29. The 14 voted against it because it merely perpetuates Bush's war

indefinitely. The late deadline doesn't end the war - it gives Bush the option of continuing on for the same kinds of reasons he uses to justify this disaster right now.

[EFerrari]

23. The thing is, it keeps our political discourse in fantasy land.

Can't some nearer truth be made palatable? That would take actual skill, I guess.

[EFerrari]

22. And that was AFTER we starved a million? children with sanctions

and bombed the place for a dozen years.

Every time I hear how the Iraqis are somehow to blame for this mess we made, it makes me mad. Thee Democrats have to stop doing this. It's disgusting.

[Seabiscuit]

20. Excuuuuuuuuse me!

The voters didn't just vote to "demand a change", they voted to END THE WAR!

The voters didn't just vote for a "new direction" and certainly didn't vote for "a real plan that holds the Iraqi people accountable for their own country." We voted to END THE WAR.

As this bill will surely be killed in the Senate, or vetoed by Bush, it is merely symbolic. If the House is going to indulge in symbolism, why can't it at least get the symbolism right, and vote to END THE WAR??? The 14 Democrats who voted against this bill would support that one. Playing footsie with the Repukes merely garnered two Republican votes. The bill stinks.

[MasonJar]

24. Our obligation to Iraq is to provide as much money as is needed

for them to rebuild their country. Their people should do the rebuilding. The Iraqis need jobs and are also very educated and capable citizens of the world. The money must, however, be tied to equal rights for all faiths and equal rights for women.