Edwards' response to Bush's request for additional war funding

[Lobster Martini]

Edwards: Latest War Funding Request Continues Failed Iraq Strategy, Congress Must Demand Timeline For Withdrawal

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – In response to President Bush's request for an additional $46 billion for war funding, Senator John Edwards released the following statement:

"Today President Bush will ask for another $46 billion from Congress to fund operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This request comes on top of his original request for $140 billion and confirms that his administration is pressing on with the only Iraq strategy it has ever had—more time, more troops and more war.

"Enough is enough. The American people voted for change last November and now, almost a year later we still have the status quo. Once and for all Congress must stand up to President Bush and pass a funding bill with a timetable for withdrawal. If the president vetoes that bill, Congress must send it back, again and again, as many times as it takes for the president to finally get the message that he can't defy the American people. Every member of Congress who believes this war must end has the moral responsibility to use every tool available to them, including a filibuster, to send the president one simple message: No timeline, no funding. No excuses."

(LM: This is from John Edwards' Web site. No link is provided because there is no more text.)

[penguin7]

1. More hypocrisy from the Democrat most

responsible for bringing us the war in Iraq.

[daninthemoon]

2. How is he "most responsible"? Enlighten me,

[robinlynne]

9. This poster goes to all the Edwards threads and makes attacks with no back-up.

[penguin7]

13. What comment did I say about Edwards that is not true?

I took some time off from bashing Edwards. I find his support so irrational that it is maddening to me. I cannot resist bashing him sometimes. He is so deserving of a good bashing if only for his cheerleading for the war in Iraq.

[robinlynne]

15. You were just in another post saying Edwards is a "scammer". what kind of scam you dont

say.

[penguin7]

16. Now back that up please.

Where exactly did I say that?

[robinlynne]

20. It was seasoned blue who said that. you said "Edward's supporters must all be deluded trial lawyers.

which is not as bad as calling him a scammer. A nasty thread about Edwards' friend leasing him a jet for a lower price than Hillary paid for hers.

[Cameron27]

32. Oh dear god you're right,

seasonedblue gave an unsubstantiated opinion about Edwards getting an undeclared break of thousands and thousands of $$$ by using a private jet from a friend. I've never seen anyone else post an opinion like that on DU before.

A thousand apologies.

[truebrit71]

3. How the hell is he the "most" responsible Democrat for the war?

What a fucking stupid thing to say...:eyes:

[penguin7]

6. Look at this speech.

http://www.cfr.org/publication/5441/
My position is very clear: The time has come for decisive action to eliminate the threat posed by Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction. I am a co-sponsor of the bipartisan resolution we’re currently considering.--John Edwards October 2002

Also look at this DailyKos thread

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/21/0488/06212

[truebrit71]

8. How many votes did he have? As many as HRC...why is SHE more responsible?

Afterall...she's still war-mongering now....

[penguin7]

11. He not only voted for the war,

He cheer leaded for it.

He was also on the intelligence committee and he did not play it straight there either.

[truebrit71]

12. ..and all of the other Dems are blameless? Bullsh*t.

...

[Adelante]

18. Well, he co-sponsored the damned thing with Lieberman

In addition to voting for and co-sponsoring the IWR, he voted against every single mitigating amendment, such as Byrd's, Levin's, Durbin's, etc. He sat on the Senate Intelligence Committee where he had more access to intelligence, including the full NIE, which he neglected to read, and which showed the weaknesses in Bushco's case for war, as since verified by Graham, Levin and Durbin. He so impressed the Bush administration with his arguments in favor the State Department carried an op-ed of his on websites around the world. Since Lieberman was a Democrat at the time, I would say Edwards was the second most responsible Democrat for the war.

[surfermaw]

22. Who cares what you say, we were all around to see what

and why John Edwards voted for the war, with conditions that Bush the nut didn't honor.

[Adelante]

23. Just because you swallow whole everything Edwards says

Doesn't mean all of us do. Some of us use actual facts in our arguments.

[truebrit71]

30. Wow...you really bought into the General's endorsement of HRC didn't you?

...

[Adelante]

31. Excuse me?

[truebrit71]

33. No Wes, he supports HRC..and you are backing a competitor of hers...

...wrong assumption on my part?

[Adelante]

35. Yes, wrong assumption

I respect General Clark's right to endorse who he thinks best. Fortunately, being a Clark supporter doesn't mean I have to agree. I don't disown him and he doesn't disown me. However, my post never even referred to Clark or Clinton, so more than a wrong assumption, it was out of nowhere. Every word I said about Edwards is factual and what I've maintained throughout and prior to this primary season, long before Clark endorsed Clinton. So don't hold him responsible for my conclusions and please do not imply that I have no brain or judgment independently my own.

[truebrit71]

38. Wow....mountain out of a molehill much?

I just commented on how it looked like you had followed in Gen Clark's footsteps...pardon me for thinking...

[Adelante]

40. What made it look that way?

Nothing I said. The problem is you didn't think. You lashed out.

Anyway, peace :hi:

[truebrit71]

41. Peace back at ya!!

:hi:

Sorry...I'm a little cranky after the daily capitulation by the House Dems...

[Adelante]

42. I'm really sad about Stark

It's a heartbreaker.

[Lobster Martini]

5. Respectfully...what?

Relying on my imperfect memory, about 81 Democrats in the House and 29 in the Senate voted to authorize the war...110 Democrats in all...how is Edwards the Democrat most responsible?

[Forkboy]

17. Regardless, he's right now, and you're helping deflect valid criticism of Bush.

Who I'm sure appreciates the cover.

[saracat]

4. Edwards rocks! Go Johnny go! A Dem with a spine.Yahoo!

[Auntie Bush]

19. And not a vote to worry about...like the other candidates.

He has the advantage to say anything he wants...nothing to lose...very brave of him.

[saracat]

24. I really don't gave a damn about those who have to protect their butts.TS.

If they are selling us down the river to "protect their seats" they deserve to lose. At least Edwards admitted he was wrong when he cast a "politically expedient" vote on IWAR. Others should do the same, and those that continue to do so are reprehensible.It would not effect a Democratic win. It just makes the GOP respect us even less.This is not the year to do that. Those that do are stupid because they are not listening to the voters.

[bigwillq]

7. Cut the funding.

End the war.

Enough IS Enough.

[CountAllVotes]

10. Amen!!!!

:thumbsup:

You are thinking very clearly and concisely. Thank you for some sanity here.

[rodeodance]

14. Eliz is on Situation room right now. Would love her as First Lady

[MethuenProgressive]

21. Why did he tuck tail and run away from his Senate seat?

If he really wanted to do half of what he claims is so important to him, he should've stayed in the Senate. But it's easier to just quit, and then act like a crybaby.

[provis99]

27. He left the Senate to run for Vice President

Just to clear up your ignorance.

[Nutmegger]

25. R&K for Edwards ...

His leadership is needed, badly.

Go Edwards!

[dogman]

26. Just purchase a windsock.

Leadership is not blowing with the wind.

[saracat]

28. Nope. Hillary is the windsock.

[Rhythm and Blue]

29. Thanks, John. Would it have killed you to oppose the war *before* it became

the more-popular position? I understand you want to be a "populist," but that's not exactly what that word means.

[saracat]

36. Unlike "our girl" who presents a different position very day to whatever group she is speaking to!.

but somehow has never taken a position against the war or admitted it was a mistake. Feh.

[Divine Discontent]

34. Excellent response John

He is standing firm, against attack, for many issues. He is not taking dirty money, and he is embracing change in many areas that B*sh is not. I continue to fully support this guy with what I can give. I hope come February he is leading in the polls by such a large margin that there will be no question. Otherwise, I hope VP Gore will step into the ring, as I don't feel Biden or Obama have even less of a chance passing HRC at this time (they're my backups to Edwards if he does not receive the needed support). We'll all see, come the new year.


I wish it was all over with, so we just knew. We're all so hopeful to get rid of this cancerous administration in the White House.

[jenmito]

37. EASY for him to say NOW...

I don't trust him. I think he's only so outspoken now that the war that HE co-sponsored is so unpopular and he's out of the Senate.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

39. Hillary & Obama Watch...

If they vote for more funds, they're going to lose a significant portion of the their support. It's one thing to make a bad decision six years ago. It's another thing to keep making the same mistake.

I'll agree that Edwards is in a position where he doesn't have to make that vote (and it's easy to be opposed when you're not on the spot), but Hillary and Obama are on the spot. I think their votes are going to determine the future of the candidacy.

[jenmito]

44. Obama's doing what he can with the situation HE has to deal with because

Edwards, Hillary, Biden, Dodd, and others voted for (and co-sponsored in Edwards' case). It's one thing to be outspoken against something when it's popular to do and there's no responsibility on his part. It's another to have had the judgement and bravery to speak out against it when it was UNpopular to do so.

I'm glad you agree that it's easy for Edwards to speak out now. Bur Edwards KNOWS they're on the spot and IMO he's taking advantage of that and speaking out about the votes still to come up when hr msy hsve voted the same way as them if he was still in the Senate. Obama's right-we have to be as careful getting out as we were careless getting in.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

46. It's a simple as this...

If Hillary or Obama vote to increase funding for Mr. Bush's War, they're toast. They might as well cast their vote and drop out of the race.

[incapsulated]

43. Amen

Now he couldn't get reelected he is a reborn super liberal.

If he were still in office he would be voting for this like he always did.

[jenmito]

45. Thanks. Yup, I agree...

I'm sure he WOULD be. I don't trust him at all. He reminds me of the Repub. candidates who are suddenly so conservative. It's easy to say what the people want to hear.