Reid, Pelosi warn Bush on escalating the Iraq War: REJECT DEEPER INVOLVEMENT

[jsamuel]

EXCLUSIVE DEM LETTER TO BUSH: "WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO REJECT ANY PLANS THAT CALL FOR OUR GETTING OUR TROOPS ANY DEEPER INTO IRAQ"

Dear Mr. President:

The start of the new Congress brings us opportunities to work together on the critical issues confronting our country. No issue is more important than finding an end to the war in Iraq. December was the deadliest month of the war in over two years, pushing U.S. fatality figures over the 3,000 mark.

The American people demonstrated in the November elections that they do not believe your current Iraq policy will lead to success and that we need a change in direction for the sake of our troops and the Iraqi people. We understand that you are completing your post-election consultations on Iraq and are preparing to make a major address on your Iraq strategy to the American people next week.

Clearly this address presents you with another opportunity to make a long overdue course correction. Despite the fact that our troops have been pushed to the breaking point and, in many cases, have already served multiple tours in Iraq, news reports suggest that you believe the solution to the civil war in Iraq is to require additional sacrifices from our troops and are therefore prepared to proceed with a substantial U.S. troop increase.

Surging forces is a strategy that you have already tried and that has already failed. Like many current and former military leaders, we believe that trying again would be a serious mistake. They, like us, believe there is no purely military solution in Iraq. There is only a political solution. Adding more combat troops will only endanger more Americans and stretch our military to the breaking point for no strategic gain. And it would undermine our efforts to get the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future. We are well past the point of more troops for Iraq.

In a recent appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee, General John Abizaid, our top commander for Iraq and the region, said the following when asked about whether he thought more troops would contribute to our chances for success in Iraq:

"I met with every divisional commander, General Casey, the Corps commander, General Dempsey. We all talked together. And I said, in your professional opinion, if we were to bring in more American troops now, does it add considerably to our ability to achieve success in Iraq? And they all said no. And the reason is, because we want the Iraqis to do more. It's easy for the Iraqis to rely upon to us do this work. I believe that more American forces prevent the Iraqis from doing more, from taking more responsibility for their own future. "

Rather than deploy additional forces to Iraq, we believe the way forward is to begin t he phased redeployment of our forces in the next four to six months, while shifting the principal mission of our forces there from combat to training, logistics, force protection and counter-terror. A renewed diplomatic strategy, both within the region and beyond, is also required to help the Iraqis agree to a sustainable political settlement. In short, it is time to begin to move our forces out of Iraq and make the Iraqi political leadership aware that our commitment is not open ended, that we cannot resolve their sectarian problems, and that only they can find the political resolution required to stabilize Iraq.

Our troops and the American people have already sacrificed a great deal for the future of Iraq. After nearly four years of combat, tens of thousands of U.S. casualties, and over $300 billion dollars, it is time to bring the war to a close. We, therefore, strongly encourage you to reject any plans that call for our getting our troops any deeper into Iraq. We want to do everything we can to help Iraq succeed in the future but, like many of our senior military leaders, we do not believe that adding more U.S. combat troops contributes to success.

We appreciate you taking these views into consideration.

Sincerely,

­­­­
Harry Reid Nancy Pelosi

Majority Leader Speaker

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/01/05/exc_n_37915.html

[Jeanette in FL]

1. Thanks for posting

Just heard this breaking news on MSNBC and was looking for a link to the news or the letter.

Thank you for posting it.

Now let's call our congressperson and tell them that we support Pelosi and Reid in the letter that they sent to the president.

Edit to add text.

[ZENmud]

103. Nancy can use her NancySmasher

Cartoon at crystelZENmud about covers what's Mrs. Pelosi meaning by 'we're going to investigate...'

:-)

ZENmud

[Quakerfriend]

2. Excellent!

:bounce:

[leveymg]

3. This needs to be on the Front-page. The Dems have spoken.

How could they possibly be more clear: no escalation.

[patrice]

4. Escalation is Inherently Dynamic, i.e. not Uni-Lateral, the way some

seem to think it is.

[spanone]

5. K & R

[H2O Man]

6. Recommendation #5 !!!

This is potentially very big news. It looks like a significant step in the right direction.

As a Cindy-supporting member of the progressive left, I endorse their letter.

[leveymg]

11. It seems that they got Cindy's message.

But, in truth, this was what Nancy and Harry have been wanting to say all along, but decided to wait until they had been actually voted Speaker and Majority Leader.

I can't imagine a clearer statement of Democratic Party policy on this issue.

[H2O Man]

12. It helps them

to be able to say it, with everyone fully aware that many other people are saying the same thing.

[leveymg]

23. Amen to that, brother.

Nancy Pelosi and Jack Reid and Cindy Sheehan and we all speak with one voice:

OUT, NOW. That means you, Mr. President.

[Beaverhausen]

25. I think they got the whole country's message on Nov 7th!

:hi:

[mzmolly]

36. Indeed.

:)

[lancdem]

26. I agree with you on both counts

And it's not just Cindy's message; it's the message of most of the American people now, too.

[mzmolly]

34. Indeed.

in truth, this was what Nancy and Harry have been wanting to say all along, but decided to wait until they had been actually voted Speaker and Majority Leader.

Our brilliant media was claiming yesterday that because Democrats hadn't brought troops home single handedly in the first afternoon they had an ounce of power, - "all this anti-war mumbo-jumbo was just pre-election banter."

What will they say today?

[dos pelos]

62. Democrats,grow a spine,big fight coming.....

Bush expects further Democratic prostration to his escalation of the war abroad and policy of reaction at home.Until five days ago Sen. Reid,that quisling,that mass of vacillating jello,was doing his bipartisan best to enable this.Despite every effort to appease,to hide in denial,the fact remains that nothing will change for the better until Bush is removed from office.I expect to see a rapid exhaustion of attempts,on the part of the democratic "leadership",to avoid this truth.All of this self congratulation,this Joe Lieberman lets-just -hold-hands-and-sing-Kumbaya with this administration crap has to be put aside.There is a fight at issue here.There may very well be an escalation into Iran.There is legislation that needs to be repealed.The Military Commissions Act ,voted with Democratic approval,needs to be repealed.The Bankruptcy Act,voted in with Democratic Approval,needs to be repealed.The influence of corporate control of this party,turning principled legislators into Quisling appeasers has to be corrected.The smiling bipartisan support for the stripping of the Bill Of Rights has to stop.There is a fight coming,these smiling self congratulatory pieces of crap we call our elected Representatives need to stop this war now and remove this derelict from office.

[seesdifferent]

102. McCain believes America wants more war in Iraq

I believe he should be running for president of Del Boca Vista, Phase II
http://seesdifferent.wordpress.com/2007/01/06/john-mccain-for-president-of-del-boca-vista-phase-ii/

[Peace Patriot]

7. Wow! Great letter! n/t

[YankeyMCC]

8. Very good

And I hope to see a similar letter concerning the failed energy and environmental policies of this administration and that it's time to make a new strategy (or A strategy) there too.

[IndyOp]

9. Here is how Dems can cut funding to stop the escalation:

From Center for American Progress...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3051017

[bdamomma]

10. A$$hole Bush is not even to read that memo

Bush will ignore/defy that also. Stupid man

[leveymg]

20. Congress can cut off funds for White House operations.

See, http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/12/1/104224/950

Should Congress Shut Down White House if Bush Defies Subpoenas?
by leveymg
Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 07:42:24 AM PST

We've heard sabre rattling from the White House about "a war of extermination" with the incoming Democratic Congress. Now, outgoing Senate Judiciary Chair Arlen Specter has added this fire bomb:

leveymg's diary :: ::
White House will defy Democrats on security: Republican
Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:25pm ET
http://today.reuters.com/...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration is unlikely to allow the incoming Democratic majority in Congress to learn details about its domestic spying program and interrogation policy, a Republican senator said on Thursday.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who has criticized the Bush White House's secrecy about national security issues, said he would welcome detailed congressional oversight of the National Security Agency's warrantless eavesdropping.

SNIP

But he said he had "grave reservations" that Congress would end up getting the information from the administration.
Okay, the gloves are coming off. So what now?

That's fine. Congress holds a little-discussed trump card. The threat of Impeachment isn't the only card in Democratic hands. The incoming majority can cut off funding for White House operations. And, it can selectively withhold funding going to NSA and CIA private contractors involved in domestic surveillance and foreign torture, renditions, and interrogations. And, Congress can pass a law declassifying all domestic spying programs that aren't supported by FISA warrants. There are other options open to creative lawmakers willing to flex some muscle.

The White House will deliver the files, if Congress seriously threatens to cut the purse strings. Simply put, the lights could go out at 1600 Penn Ave, if Congress was determined to do so.

I'll deal with the first proposition here. Cut the White House budget. The precise amount American taxpayers waste emptying Dimson's presidential seal embossed trash baskets is almost as closely held a secret as the budget for the CIA, because the Executive Office of the President (EOP) largely overlaps other federal agencies.

Nonetheless, salaries for the the White House staff are known to be way too high and seem to be the most vulnerable, and there are a number of offices whose annual funding Congress could take the knife too. The full roster of EOP Administrative units is as follows:

Office of the Chief of Staff (EOP, The White House Office)

Office of the Staff Secretary (EOP, The White House Office)

White House Counsel's Office (EOP, The White House Office)

Advance Office (EOP, The White House Office)

Office of Scheduling (EOP, The White House Office)

Oval Office Operations (EOP, The White House Office)

Office of Presidential Correspondence (EOP, The White House Office)

Office of Management and Administration (EOP, The White House Office)

White House Military Office (EOP, The White House Office)

Executive Residence Usher's Office (EOP, The White House Office)

Executive Clerk (EOP, The White House Office)

Office of the First Lady (EOP, The White House Office)

White House Curator (EOP, The White House Office)

The article explains it a bit further: http://www.americanpresident.org/...

SNIP

[Mind_your_head]

89. Wow - very cool strategy..... This really deserves a post of it's own

Especially:

The threat of Impeachment isn't the only card in Democratic hands. The incoming majority can cut off funding for White House operations. And, it can selectively withhold funding going to NSA and CIA private contractors involved in domestic surveillance and foreign torture, renditions, and interrogations. And, Congress can pass a law declassifying all domestic spying programs that aren't supported by FISA warrants. There are other options open to creative lawmakers willing to flex some muscle.

The White House will deliver the files, if Congress seriously threatens to cut the purse strings. Simply put, the lights could go out at 1600 Penn Ave, if Congress was determined to do so.

"Turning the lights off/shutting off the gas" (taking the car keys away) from the sociopath in chief would be an EXCELLENT strategy to stop his wrong-headed foolishness without putting the country through the impeachment process (although I'm all for that as well, if necessary....but it would be better smarter THIS way, methinks).

:applause: Bravo to "the whomevers" that thought of this; it's a stroke of genius!!!

Again, leveymg, I hope that you will start a thread with this. I don't think enough people have seen it here at this position.

Peace,
M_Y_H

[The Wizard]

95. Say goodbye

totalitarian unitary executive, say hello checks and balances. Rather the White House cease to exist than the entire country. It's called a salvage operation. Kind of like Chapter 11.

[wiggs]

21. You might be right. But if he was actually using his head, he would realize he's

poised to get out of this thing with least damage possible. With the ISG report, new generals, and congress insisting on withdrawl he has all the excuse he needs to exit. He could even claim that Iraq is self-sustaining now and that whatever happens is up to Iraqis and if it goes bad the ISG and dems are to blame.

That is, of course, if the goal is to exit and let Iraq go on its merry way. I believe personally that the goal is chaos and escalation, evidenced by almost every decision made over the last three years (including allowing Hussein execution to be recorded...not accidental)

[The Wizard]

96. Clueless George rendered nutless

Declare victory, name the place West Iran and have a ticker tape parade for the returning troops. And three more things: Impeach, indict, imprison. Well at least we don't have a rubber stamp Congress. Let's hope the new guys put the brakes on the runaway downhill train that has used the Iraq War as cover for treasury looting. Saddam Hussein is dead and we're not one bit more secure. He may have been a bastard, but he knew how to keep the lid on things. The Islamic fundamentalists who took over Iraq didn't have any power under Saddam. We have aided and abetted an Islamic fundamentalist cause bent on destroying western culture. This has been the biggest foreign policy disaster in our history. None of the people who created it and demanded war ever faced bombs and hot lead, and therein lies the problem. They flat out ignored the advice of the generals whose troops were going to be sacrificed. Fuck 'em where they breathe.

[SammyWinstonJack]

32. Arrogant stupid man. The more opposition he encounters the more

defiant he becomes.

[bdamomma]

44. he does alright

Have you read this article, it is a must read.


http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/interviews/049

here is just a snip of it:

Justin A. Frank, M.D., Author of "Bush on the Couch" Gets to the Heart of the Matter: We Have a Sociopath as President
Submitted by BuzzFlash on Tue, 01/02/2007 - 4:56pm. Interviews
A BUZZFLASH INTERVIEW

I think what he does is he turns everybody who disagrees with him into his father. It doesn’t matter whether it’s actually the concrete representation of his father, like Baker, or the voters who vote against staying in Iraq. We have become his father. We are the people he is now defying. He will turn everybody, any authority, anybody who disagrees with him, into a father figure who he’d have to defy. -- Justin A. Frank, M.D.

* * *

[Greeby]

51. That interview is distrubing

Especially Frank's assertion that, evil as he is, we'd be better off with President Cheney :scared:

[bdamomma]

54. hey greeby, but you read in that article how bush does not think

which he always says things like, I feel it in my gut? his gut? how stupid is that?

[BelgianMadCow]

69. Colbert's Whitehouse press diner has the answer to your gut question

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-869183917758574879

a really really good time

[IWantAChange]

101. Colbert's remarks are hilarious but moreover they are so ACCURATE

[Sleeper4amoment]

86. Do they have the killer instinct?

He will be defiant until the end. It will get messy. Does the Congress have the fortitude to carry out their threats. I love the tough words they are long overdo. This will get better this year especially if the public feels a defiant passion that is not isolated. They will resign when they are disgraced in hearings that get public airing. We need more demonstrations with larger groups of people showing our serious dedication to our principles. We can displace these punks maybe our Dems will stand firm. We must end the Racket of War as described by the two time Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Major General Smedley Butlers Book from 1935 "War is A Racket":

http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

90. Yeah, he's a mean drunk, alright.

And he ain't gonna listen to no democrat speaker of no house.

I don't think he even listens to his own people.

[SammyWinstonJack]

110. He's just an arrogant a$$hole and he hates himself more than he hates us!

And make no mistake, he hates us!

[Mz Pip]

13. Lets all copy the headline

to that letter and mail it to Bush. We can write on the envelope "Please read this mail." Since Bush wants to read our mail, lets give him a whole bundle full to keep him occupied.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[mnhtnbb]

37. LOL. Great idea.

[malaise]

14. On MSNBC now n/t

[habitual]

15. Awesome!

And i'm glad Reid didn't continue to follow his original line of 'surge only acceptable with a clearcut mission for them'

I was pulling the hair outta my head when he was saying that...

Firmly oppose this crap. Bush will of course ignore it and fuck things up some more. More people will die because this man has to protect his 'legacy' and hold out to pass this mess on to someone else (story of his failure life.)

Edit: spelling/grammar

[dogday]

16. Let's see what the next move will be..

Will he just ignore the House, and Senate, and do whatever the hell he wants?

[jsamuel]

18. That's what he usually does.

[tridim]

19. Yes, he will ignore congress and do what he wants

Because he's a psychopath, an massive egomaniac and in his own mind a dictator.

[bdamomma]

46. can they arrest him now??? wishful thinking on my part.

[G_Leo_Criley]

17. k& r and thanks...

To The Speaker and the Majority Leader. They speak for the majority of Americans.

:kick:

glc

[tridim]

22. Delete

Edit: Sorry, wrong thread. :)

[Cleita]

24. And so the games begin.

Capitol Hill vs. the White House. May the legally elected representatives of the people win.

Soon Bush should be quacking like a lame duck.

[BluePatriot]

27. Great letter

which finally nips in the bud that old "Democrats have no plan" talking point...

"Rather than deploy additional forces to Iraq, we believe the way forward is to begin t he phased redeployment of our forces in the next four to six months, while shifting the principal mission of our forces there from combat to training, logistics, force protection and counter-terror. A renewed diplomatic strategy, both within the region and beyond, is also required to help the Iraqis agree to a sustainable political settlement. In short, it is time to begin to move our forces out of Iraq and make the Iraqi political leadership aware that our commitment is not open ended, that we cannot resolve their sectarian problems, and that only they can find the political resolution required to stabilize Iraq."

Sounds damn well like a plan to me, and a good one, too.

[Jeanette in FL]

40. I am emailing a copy to Lou Dobb's right now

He has been a big one on saying "The Democrats have no plan".

Well here Lou, here's the plan.

[libnnc]

28. Excellent. Well done.

This is a very good thing.

[Babel_17]

29. K&R: Finally the pieces .....

can come together.

We have congress and we have generals (and others) with the courage to be outspoken.

That quote by General John Abizaid keeps this from getting the usual knee-jerk treatment from the MSM.

Let the truth win out, that's all we've ever asked.

[bdamomma]

47. These Generals both Abizaid and Casey got canned because

Abizaid believes in regional diplomacy talks and Casey believes more troops will not help. Do you think Dimson will listen no he won't and I am ready for Bush to tell the American people again He is commander in thief, I would really like to see him have a meltdown and just have him committed. Can we call all psychiatrists and psychologists on this case they need to do an assessment on this maniac.

[mnhtnbb]

30. "We appreciate you taking these views into consideration" And what if he doesn't

take the views into consideration? Are Reid and Pelosi prepared to pull the funding?

[jsamuel]

58. At this point they are "warning" him as he hasn't formally said what his plans are.

When he does, then would be the time to threaten that, if they are going to.

[disndat]

104. * might do it anyway

* has 300 billion dollar$$ to do it anyway. He may want one more gigantic bloodbath to keep the war going that he seems to desperately needs. Recently, * ominously bucked up his supporters by saying, "we still have things we could do." Generals Casey and Abazaid were replaced by generals that are committed to carrying out the "surge."

[AndyA]

31. I feel sorry for the White House staff.

Little Lord Pissypants is going to be in a bad mood this weekend, and we know that's got to be rough on the staff.

I'm glad the Dems have put their foot down, and have put A-hole on notice that his blank checks have run out. Accountability and responsibility are the new direction. Bush should try it. For a change.

[mnhtnbb]

35. You got that right!

[bdamomma]

48. and the word OVERSIGHT, which these criminals need.

[mzmolly]

33. Oh no! What will Chris Matthews bitch about tonight?!

Democrats are UNITED AGAINST this war, and we must bring the troops home!

:toast: MADE MY DAY!

Thanks!

[libnnc]

39. Whatever it is, to be sure it will be pretty incoherent and

drenched in spittle.

'Cause he does spittle-drenched incoherency really well.

[mzmolly]

43. Heh.

:hi:

[brer cat]

55. lol Looks like you just framed his "legacy" perfectly.

Into the history books: GWB "he did spittle-drenched incoherency really well."

[libnnc]

64. Actually I was talking about Chris Matthews

But it works for Chimpy McCokespoon as well.

[applegrove]

38. You go guys!

[Diane R]

41. Bush has Oppositional Disorder, and Nancy is an experienced mother. This is going to be interesting

I really do think that Nancy just might be able to do the job that Barbara didn't do.

[ocd liberal]

87. Yeah!

I was just thinking the same!

[judaspriestess]

42. Great letter

why is this admin still holding out? They are already got the ultimate circle jerk out of this with the hanging of Saddam Hussein. Now it looks like they want to pass the baton to the next president.

these animals have no shame!!

[The Stranger]

45. INVESTIGATE, IMPEACH, CONVICT, SENTENCE.

[wordpix]

78. YES!

[Imagevision]

49. Harry Reid Nancy Pelosi, thank you -- Cindy Sheehan thank you too and I hope you don't stop

until President bozo-in-chief is impeached!

[cain_7777]

50. Thank FSM we won the elections!

Someone tell Barbara Bush to change lord pissypants diaper, it's stinking up the country.

[bluewave]

52. Brava Nancy! We finally have oversight!

[hashibabba]

53. Thanks for posting this. This past two days has made me SO

proud to be a Democrat! Go Nancy and Harry!

Too bad Bush will not listen. But we still have other options to tie his evil hands. We'll get him yet.

[RiverStone]

56. Just what we expect from our new DEM leaders!

Great job Nancy & Harry! Y'all are doing as advertised during the election.

:yourock:

[ZaiusNation]

57. The Battle of the Surge

Zaius Nation

[LuckyX]

59. We don't even HAVE 20k troops

to send. The military tells Bush we only have 9,000. What a joke this all is. The Dems can only cut funding for the war, so they better fire up the investigations and start the impeachments now this guy is outta his mind.

[jsamuel]

60. he just wants to be able to claim that we would have won if it hadn't been for those pesky Dems

not allowing me to send in more troops

Well, tough.

[montanto]

61. Thanks for the letter! K&R nt

[Skidmore]

63. Methinks Pelosi & Reid just blew McCain and Lieberman out of

the water with this. McCain has already made some statement about unless a "surge" is sustained, "don't do it." Lieberman was supposed to speak today. Did anyone hear him? Dems are looking strong here.

[wordpix]

82. and what are we supposed to sustain a surge with, McCain? Are his kids there?

Bush and Cheney's sure aren't.

[GenDem]

65. A quick jump out of the starting gate.

Thank you majority leaders for listening to the will of the American people! A GREAT start!
:bounce:

[StrictlyRockers]

66. Wow, it's about time! It took them, what, a whole day to do this?

:sarcasm:

[Hulk]

67. Be PREPARED TO MARCH, AMERICA!!

If this insane preznit that occupies the WH decides to escalate this insane act of aggression and senseless killing, it is time for US, the American people, to stand united and show him we want OUT of this mess he's gotten our whole country into.
If he wants to escalate the war, then send himself and his neocons over with guns to patrol the streets. He can go to hell, but leave the rest of us here.

[wordpix]

72. and take over the country as the repukes aim to seize power

[eyepaddle]

68. Ooohh, does that ever feel good to read.

Well, no matter waht *'s reaction is times are about to get VERY interesting--and fortunately not just in the terrible way they have been for the last six years.

[seesdifferent]

70. Dem takeover, Satanic attacks on farm animals cause spike in Rapture Index

http://seesdifferent.wordpress.com/2007/01/05/democratic-control-of-congress-satanic-attacks-on-farm-animals-send-rapture-index-to-an-all-time-high/

[wordpix]

71. just discussed on Hardball. Paul Rykoff, Iraq War vet, says US troops caught between 4-5 factions

not just Sunni and Shi'ia. What a dumbass * is, to thnk our troops can stabilize this situation when our troops can't even speak Arabic.

Live: reporter says Pelosi says "no blank check" for Iraq. Apparently, Dumbass' request is $100 billion. We now owe about $26K for every American to the Chinese and Saudis.

[EstimatedProphet]

73. Yes! I knew they would come through for us!

[sleepingdog]

74. I don't mind ONE BIT........

.....that my/our Christmas has fallen on January FOURTH. In fact, maybe the 4th of Jan. should rival the 4th of July for celebrating!:patriot: :kick:

[Bobbie Jo]

75. There it is! K&R

:kick:

[LSK]

76. K&R

[senseandsensibility]

77. Woo-hoo

and kick. Let's keep this one kicked as a sign of support for the Dems.:toast:

[SunDrop23]

79. His strategy is clear...f*ck it up bad enough...

f*ck it up beyond any hope of repair...

then blame the Dems, just in time for the 08 elections.

He is sabotaging the mission. Sacrificing American troops.

Enjoy hell, jagoff!

[wordpix]

80. $350 BILLION and could approach $1 TRILLION by end---more than all other US programs' costs

:puke:

When I think of the health care, environmental and education programs that would have been helped by that money, it makes me sick. Not to mention, the 3,000+ dead and 25,000 soldiers wounded for life.

[wordpix]

81. WTF work are we supposed to do? Which of the 4-5 factions are we fighting for?

Maybe the freepers or BushCo could answer that. But they can't
.

[Guaranteed]

83. Outstanding letter. I'm very proud of them.

Things will- with continued effort- start getting better from here.

[Cameron27]

84. YES!!!!!

Good job Dems!!!

[Hulk]

85. FRESHMEN CONGRESSPERSONS on ABC

Did anyone catch the interview by Gibson last night? I just saw it on Crooks and Liars, and if Boyd is any indication from Kansas, the rubber stamp is alive and healthy in Washington. Might want to catch that clip. What she said in essence was, "we'll give the Commander in Chief what he asks for". Now, I don't think that's what we voted, but maybe I was just sold a used car that turned out to be a lemon??

[nealmhughes]

88. Today our Democratic Leaders have shown more backbone than the Party has

collectively in 12 years. I am so proud of Speaker Pelosi! And Mr. Reid, too! We have been held captive since the Contract with America to a failed ideology of an imaginary state of the nation and of the world that has never existed, save in an Ayn Rand novel or a Televangelist broadcast, blinded and numbed by the enabling complacent press and a system of official bribes known as Pay-to-Play.

We have squandered our national collective wealth and sent young men and women sworn to defend the Constitution off to be maimed and killed by an autocrat and his rubberstamp Congress. We have alienated state after state in our attempt at Empire. We have destroyed Mesopotamia root and branch, turning Iraq from a secular multiethnic state into a tripartate de facto anarchistic entity.

We have corporations' profits over people time after time again and set up a self-perpetuating aristocracy exempt of taxation and the rule of law. We saw a city and an entire coastline destroyed before our very eyes, while George Bush ate cake and played guitar halfway across the country, rather than rushing to Mobile or Houston to take charge of the drowning Gulf Coast and city of New Orleans.

Mr. Bush has squandered every opportunity of wealth, connection and education afforded him, being an utter failure at every endeavor in private life. Now, beyond all reason, he has been selected President of the United States. I am loathe to say "elected," given the outrage of the Florida decision in the USSC, the various "electronic voting" scandals in 2000 and 2004 -- therefore, let us be content with "selected."

The United States and its Congress has suffered -- in both senses of the word -- long enough at Mr. Bush's inept hands. It is time for the truth to be frankly and bluntly spoken: Mr. Bush, we the people say no to your war. We say no to our jobs being shipped part and parcel overseas and our citizens deprived of livelihood and your corporate ilk not paying their fair share of their unjust profits. We say no to any attack on Iran and an escalation of our debacle in Iraq. We say no to Exxon-Mobil and to Texaco, Aramco, BP, and all the other soi disant masters of our modern world.

We say yes to peace, environmental stewardship, energy conservation and alternatives to fossil fuel, to public transport and education, to a healthy working America with a just wage and a fair trade policy.

We all so soon will be most grateful when we are able to say "goodbye." The Democratic Leaders have dropped the gauntlet, and there are no more whispers of the Little Prince lacking clothes, his withered pudenda is there for us all to metaphorically behold. It is war now, Mr. Bush. A rhetorical war now, but you must recall one thing: Nancy Pelosi holds your checkbook...

[sparerib]

91. Bush Shuffles Generals

There is a news article posted on MSNBC's website entitled
"Bush Shuffles Generals in Iraq--2 new generals tapped to
lead military in Iraq".  These are the last three
paragraphs:

     As with Abizaid, Casey also has expressed reservations
about the potential effectiveness of boosting troop strength
in Iraq. 
     He told reporters in Iraq last month that he is “not
necessarily opposed to the idea” of sending in more troops,
but said 
     any increase would have to “help us progress to our
strategic objectives.”

     Besides military, Bush’s new plan is expected to contain
economic, political and diplomatic components.

     Given the need to reduce high unemployment and draw
Iraqis away from Shiite militias and the Sunni insurgency, the
president 
     is considering loans to businesses. He is looking at
getting Iraqis into short-term jobs by proposing a significant
increase 
     in the discretionary funds that military commanders can
use for reconstruction projects.

I keep trying to understand why otherwise seemingly
respectable people like McCain and Leiberman would advocate a
"surge" in troops and wonder if I'm missing
something.  But when I read that our top generals (who are in
the process of being replaced) say essentially that they need
to know the strategic objective before they can access the
idea of sending more troops, then I know I'm not missing
something, because our commanding generals DO NOT EVEN KNOW
WHAT OUR OBJECTIVE IS IN BEING THERE.  This reminds me of the
press releases that the troops say they don't know who the
enemy is.  Maybe this is because the "enemy" is the
Iraqi people, the vast majority of which, regardless of
religious affiliation, want us, who invaded their country and
then threw it into utter turmoil, just to leave.  And the last
paragraph?  Are we going to set up a branch of the SBA in
Iraq, or is the military to set up a card table in the street
to hand out money?  Or, are the troops to hand it out to the
children of the "terrorists," otherwise known as
Iraqi citizens.  I keep telling myself that our leaders can't
be as moronic as they seem, BUT THEY ARE."

[Rose Siding]

93. That's a hard belief to let go of, isn't it?

It seems so reasonable to trust that if someone's in charge they know what they're doing. Throw in a little trust for a system that balances power and things should work. But it just isn't so. There's something else entirely going on with this plan to escalate. -The same with this whole administration.

I decided that when Bush refused to even SPEAK to anyone in Iraq before the invasion. One of the first lessons we teach our children to use their words, and he didn't have THAT one down.

MoveOn had a sizable protest -a few hundred- outside AEI today where McCain and Lieberman were speaking. Maybe this folly will tip the scales and people just won't stand for it.

Welcome to DU, sparerib :hi:

[NBachers]

92. I Read It- Did Bush?

I took the few minutes necessary to read this entire letter. It is exemplary, with one suggestion: Use the word "escalate."

I wonder if Bush actually read it?

[Chipper Chat]

94. Bush has already used the letter as toilet paper.

I remember the stunned look on his face last November as he publicly reacted to the election. The man didnt have a clue democrats were about to win control. Now he thinks Brownback and his cronies are still in charge (By the way, where is Senator Allen? - ha ha). He will soon find out Nancy and Harry are made of steel and are NOT, I repeat NOT going to 'keep their powder dry' any more.
Oh, and screw you Jomentum if you try to 'mediate' with a 'gang of 1'.

[Orsino]

97. "...[I]t is time to bring the war to a close."

I wish there had been a little more emphasis on this point. Preventing escalation is not enough.

[jazzjunkysue]

98. Get the new and improved Pelosi-Reid Surge Protector!

It wards off any possible constitutional short circuits! No more budget overload!

[curiousdemo]

99. My letter to Bush would have started off like this...

Listen Loser,

Your're a draftdodging, sulfur smelling, spoil, rotten, President wannabe SOB. Send your own kids to war, then we might surge the troops. Quit being a loser and listen to the American people, who sent you a message November with their vote. You and quick finger cheney better wise up or you'll be impeached as fast as you can say looneybirds.

See you around Turd Blossom

[IWantAChange]

100. Will the American public stand for a King doing whatever he wants?

I must have been asleep when we changed over to a monarchy.

[AikidoSoul]

105. Tried to recommend this but there's a limit on time. This post is

more than 24 hrs old. This is great news no matter how old it is.

[Desert Liberal]

106. Kick and glad to finally have something

to be proud of coming out of my House of Representatives and my Senate. Maybe now we can scream loud enough that even crazy-ass * will have to listen! Damn, it's nice to have my government firing back up!


Edited to add text

[Imagevision]

107. Bush keeps repeating the same mistakes thinking the public is stupid!!

Instead Americans have been slapped silly because of the Bush administration's leadership bullshit!

[warpheads]

108. Start of Weak Bipartisan Failure...

The letter I'm sending my Democrat Senators and Representative is copied below. In general; this is what I was afraid of. No Guts. I'm already reading how giddy the Democrats are about thinking about 2008 and now the best we get is a pansy ass letter stating milk-toast disagreement? OOOOhhhh! Must be bipartisan!! Don't do the right thing, you might seem unpatriotic!! I see. And I hear the voices of all the Demo bloggers saying :"No, I don't like it either; but we have to support what they are doing now to move the Democrat addenda forward later!!!" So; hold out the carrot on a stick bag of goodies and the brainless masses will say "OO! Thank you sir!" Bullshit.
This is the letter I'm sending and if you feel the same way feel free to copy and send it to your Democrat Senator and Representative.
The war has to stop, Bush and Cheney needs to be investigated and impeachea and removed, the Corporatism of our country has to stop, the Bill of Rights has got to be restored with the rejection of the Patriot Act and all other 'homeland security' legislation that is aimed at American Citizens.
The letter is below:

I am writing to urge you to do the right thing, to take correct ethical and political action now; not later, concerning the war in Iraq, and the necessary investigations of President Bush to ascertain if he knowing broke the law by lying to the American people to start this war and begin impeachment hearings promptly.
The issues the American people sent a Democrat majority to Washington to address were as follows:
1. Did President Bush lie to the American people about Iraq?
2. Corruption as a result of conflict of interest with the Bush/Cheney family ties to Brown & Root and Halliburton.
3. Violation of the Bill of Rights via the Patriot Act and other Homeland Security legislation that has resulted in wire-tapping and now the opening of mail without warrant; as well as internet security.
4. The never-ending move toward a Police State through policies that deny Americans the right of assembly as evidenced by the imprisoning of American Citizens in New York City during the Republican Convention and the caging of American Citizens during legally licensed gatherings to voice dissent.

The age-old routine of holding a carrot in front of the American people with minimum wage increases and health care reform WILL NOT SELL THIS TIME. Handing out freebies was not the purpose of our vote. The States have done a better job of increasing the minimum wage both during the years the Democrats were in power and with Mr. Clinton in the White House. Your collective will to fight the Insurance and Pharmaceutical industries for health care is no less dubious now than it was during the fiasco for sorely needed National Health Care during the Clinton Administration.
Congratulations on the recent election successes for the Democrat Party. Now; it’s yours to keep, or yours to loose. Bipartisan compromises will not win you the White House and will not get you re-elected. We are living in a country that has lost sight of it’s history and is involved in an illegal war abroad with the American people suffering under un-checked Corporatism at home. The ball is in you court for the time. Do the right thing.

Sincerely,

[Mind_your_head]

109. An EXCELLENT letter.....and very insightful what you wrote here:

The age-old routine of holding a carrot in front of the American people with minimum wage increases and health care reform WILL NOT SELL THIS TIME. Handing out freebies was not the purpose of our vote....

Thank you for being able to see the "larger picture", reminding us of it, and posting it here.

Last but not least, welcome to DU!

Peace,
M_Y_H

[warpheads]

111. Weak and Spine-Less Sell-Out Response

Why is Bush escalating the war in Iraq? Why did he sign an executive order allowing our Fourth Amendment Rights to be further destroyed by opening our mail without warrant?
A large part of this is because Bush knows the Democrats aren't going to do a damn thing to stop him. The Dems were voted in to stop the war and the attack on our Bill of Rights and all they start with is raising the minimum wage which most states already have and another run at health care reform to which they don't have the will to take on their corporate owners? From the start it looks like we're going to get more of the same with the republocrats laughing all the way to the bank on our dime!
Ms Pelosi has already stated that there will be NO investigations concerning impeachment and the attack on our Bill of Rights is not on the addenda either! Again: 78% of Americans voted the republicans out because they want the troops home, the war over and the domestic abuses to stop!! This letter was laughable at best and the reason Bush feels no threat proposing a surge. CUT THE FUNDING AND REQUIRE A TIMETABLE BUT FIRST GROW SOME BALLS!!!!!!!!!
Story below:
Bush aides preview 'surge' proposal
By Doyle McManus and Maura Reynolds, Times Staff Writer
7:55 PM PST, January 6, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Two months ago, the nation's voters handed both houses of Congress to the Democrats in an election that reflected deep discontent with the war in Iraq.

This week, President Bush is responding to voters' message — by preparing to escalate the U.S. military commitment in Iraq with a "surge" that would add thousands of troops.

That might sound paradoxical, but aides say Bush's willingness to send more troops makes sense based on two beliefs that have long guided his war strategy. The first is that the price of leaving Iraq would be greater than the cost of staying. The second is that the public will accept the burdens of war if it is convinced that success is still possible.

"Is this a war, or is it not a war?" one official asked, previewing an argument the president is likely to make this week. "If it is, you have to be willing to sacrifice.... Americans are willing to do that as long as we have a clear strategy that offers a chance of success."
78% of Americans polled have clearly stated that they DO NOT have confidence in Bush when it comes to the war...but what the hell does he care? The Democrats aren't going to stop him.

[cool user name]

112. Nothing short of impeachment, conviction and removal will stop the fucker.