We've lost Iraq, I mean the Dems.

[edhopper]

In September, Bush will get all the funding he wants and the Dems will roll over.
Petreaus is already saying the Surge is working. Reed is asking Republicans what meaningless legislation they would support. The WISE OLD MEN of Washington will call for another six months to wait and see. The few Republicans who voice their discontent will vote with their party. And the castrated Dems will do nothing.
It's already happening, so don't pin your hopes on a Democratic opposition.
Maybe in 2009, if the Dems can figure out how not to blow the election.

[tridim]

1. So, do you suggest the fetal position?

Should we suck our thumbs too?

[Taverner]

2. I think the Dems got greedy and sat on Iraq

Honestly - they rolled over and played the whole "we can't get enough votes!" thing, with hopes the war would drag on until 2008 for the Presidential Elections. They figured, in 2006 Opposition to Iraq gave them the majority in the Senate and house, why not ride that wave until 2008?

Of course, this wave is costing us AMERICAN and IRAQI lives, lives that do not come back, lives that are lost for political gain. Sigh, sometimes I wish I weren't this cynical...

[BlooInBloo]

3. WE'RE ALL DOOMED!! DOOOOOMED!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tom Joad]

4. to hell with the old men (and old women) of DC. We gotta stop this war.

They better wise up or move out of the way.

[bos1]

U R right, If the USgovt = War Corporations as much as this article seems to

shows it does (http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/60950), then I think your prediction is "on the money" so to speak. We can't turn to the gov't to stop that great bloodmoneymaking corporate machine because the US gov't IS the bloodmoneymaking corporate machine.

[brentspeak]

5. Yeah, let's just all lock ourselves in our rooms for the rest of our lives while we're at it

:eyes: :eyes:

[edhopper]

6. The thing is

I've read far too much on DU about how the Dems are really going to hammer Bush and take Petreaus to task in Sept. They're finally going to stand up to the infant king.
I'm just saying that the reality is going to be far from that.
So keep dreaming your little dreams of a united, strong Democratic opposition to the War. And Congressional action to end this fiasco.
Just be prepared to be very disappointed.

[derby378]

7. If I want to hear that defeatist attitude, I'll listen to Pat Buchanan

On the other hand, if someone actually wants to prod their legislators into doing the right thing for once, that would be a most welcome development. Might actually raise Congress' approval ratings, too.

[bos1]

8. and I think it pretty strange you are getting piled on like this. nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. Weird huh?

:shrug:

[edhopper]

9. Another thing,

If you want to respond to a warning that things are going to be much worse than your think.
If all you want are cheery little post about how we are going to take them down and stop their destruction of our country. You're as deluded as they are.
I'm pointing out a reality you don't want to hear. We have to deal with it.
How many times do you want to be disappointed with these guys before you accept that we are stuck until * leaves. Did the last votes on Iraq and FISA show you nothing?
If you think the Dems will actually cut off funding, I have a Bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

[brentspeak]

10. I found an earlier post of yours', where you said that the WH won't get Gonzales to resign unless

the Democrats threatened to cut off war funding.

Well, Gonzales has resigned, but it didn't require the Democrats threatening to cut off war funding.

(For the record, I do want the Democrats to cut off war funding.)

[edhopper]

11. I was wrong on that. Thankfully

My guess is that Bush did not ask Gonzales to resign and wanted him to stay until the end. I think Gonzales, being way over his head at the DOJ and looking for the constant embarrassment of more Congressional hearings, just couldn't take it anymore.

I would like nothing more than to be proved wrong on this. But I see all the happy talk about what the Dems are going to do on Iraq in Sept. and I think a deep breath and a dose of reality might be in order.

[NavyDavy]

12. me either...because if i was in Iraq as a grunt and i heard the Dems

cut off the money that might get me protective gear i would not vote for a dem ever...I will not leave my fellow military men/women without any funding....

[edhopper]

14. But Bush

is going to ask for another $50 billion. If he doesn't get it, the Dems will be painted as cutting off funding for our troops. So they will roll over again. Other than funding what can Congress really do.
What do you really expect the Dems to do to stop this war. More meaningless benchmarks that the Commander Guy will ignore?

[brentspeak]

21. Agreed.

I meant to type "I do NOT want the Democrats to cut off war funding." And I'm glad you pointed out how the troops would react to news should the Democrats cut off the funding. I don't think a lot of DUers who say that the "Democrats are funding the war" understand the repercussions of simply cutting off funding. The goal ought to be a) remove Halliburton, and all other crony companies, from the money pipeline/trough; b) make sure the $50 billion is only going for needed things, like gear; c) get the troops out of Iraq.

[bos1]

15. knowledge of the workings of the electoral system supports your view.

as does much of recent US political history except the reelection of Clinton.

[dysfunctional press]

18. clinton was and is a dlc dino...

the repugs were ecstatic to have him in the white house.

[zanne]

16. Vietnam deja-vu

The Democratic Party wasn't much help during that war, either.

[Hamlette]

17. Those who don't remember history, and I mean YOU, and doomed to repeat it

for those of you lily livered pansies thought getting OUT of a war once you're in it would be easy, you were not paying attention. It took us 6 years to get out of Vietnam AFTER half the country wanted out.

As to castrated Dems I would remind you that not ALL dems are castrated. Some are fighting with us. So don't paint so broad a brush.

Finally, these are shitty, difficult decisions. It took me a long time to come around to saying I'd be willing to watch a slaughter if we leave. But I don't have to vote.

[MiniMe]

19. Dr Ben Dover, paging Dr Ben Dover

[edhopper]

20. See response #9