Defunding is an understandably scary step for congressional Dems to take. They will only be pushed to it by a strong public mandate. While it's clear that large majorities oppose the war, it's not obvious that a large majority favors defunding. (Must support the troops and all that).
What can we do to create and manifest a public demand for defunding?
Posted by Michael Markman at December 22, 2007 05:11 AMSo, in the end, the Democrats join the Republicans in keeping those military bases permanent and our troops there indefinitely.
Merry Christmas to all our overworked and tired
politicians. I know it has been difficult to continue to give Mr. 28% everything he wants, but hell, someone had to do it.
Merry Christmas also to those overworked and tired news people. The Surge must be working, because the Iraq War has disappeared off the front pages of your newspapers and those of you in the MSM no longer report much, if anything.
Merry Christmas to all our Military personnel. I'm sorry to report that our politicians are too tired to bring you home. Tell your families to hang-in. Maybe some day you will come home and pick-up the fragments of your lives, if lucky.
Posted by Judith at December 22, 2007 05:37 AM
You know although there's still plenty of time for BushCheney to continue to wreak havoc in the world, the record level of the Democrats' capitulation leaves me bewildered and wondering if there was some huge backroom deal that went on that might account for it. All I can think of was maybe an attack on that other I country was taken off the table in exhange for all the other bogus Bushit that the democrats have supported (like Mukasey, Fisa, perpetual war in Iraq,no enforcement of subpeonas against Miers,Bolton, Rove... etc...etc). (/remove tinfoil).
Posted by emal at December 22, 2007 06:08 AMSorry to go OT.
Rest in Peace to all that get their 'organ transplants' approved in time by the CIGNA healthcare group.
Obviously our politicians don't have to worry about their healthcare.
The healthcare battle is turning into one just like the Union battle for jobs and the civil rights battle: People are dying for this battle!
How many people have to die before corporations realize they will eventually lose this battle? Right until every last dollar is squeezed from Americans and they eventually revolt!
Merry Christmas CIGNA!
Posted by Seven of Six at December 22, 2007 07:36 AMThe political will to defund the Vietnam War came with the impeachment of President Nixon. It seems that there may be some correlation between a President's will to wage an illegal and immoral war and their capacity for providing the basis for impeachment.
The solution to the Bush wars is impeachment. Illegal wiretapping, torture, lying on the intelligence to get their war for oil (downing street memo stuff) are a good place to start with the impeachment. As the administration is justifiably weakened and finally removed by impeachment, either through the inevitable resignation ala Richard Nixon with tearful speeches about their saintly mothers, or through an actual removal trial in the Senate, the war winds down as the criminals are escorted out of the halls of power.
Impeach now.
Posted by angel at December 22, 2007 07:39 AMIt has become cliche to say that both parties are controlled by special interests. It seems that those special interests (including the corporate media) are in favor of a US controlled colonial Iraq.
I have lost any hope for the current system to deliver the will of the American people. Until the system of institutionalized bribery is dismantled, we can expect little change in the current policies of our federal government.
The only presidential contenders who speak to this issue are Edwards, Obama, Kucinich, Gravel and Paul.
Posted by brisa at December 22, 2007 07:47 AMMaybe Harry knows it's helping too...
On the NewsHour tonight, Sen. Reid allowed that the surge has “helped.”
“We sent other troops over there, and there are a lot of reasons the surge certainly hasn't hurt. It's helped. I recognize that.”
(The Newshour With Jim Lehrer, PBS, December 21, 2007)
Posted by peter at December 22, 2007 10:34 AMSeems the Shaheen mess from HC's campaign has had it's effect on Jeanne Shaheen's challenge of John Sununu, she now trails 52 to 41 according to ARG/Union Leader poll.
Posted by peter at December 22, 2007 10:57 AMstill kissing that repuke ass eh petie? go lay down and see if you can keep from wetting your bed...
Posted by headxray at December 22, 2007 11:34 AMEmal, BINGO!!!! I have wondered the same thing many times.
Posted by Judith at December 22, 2007 11:39 AMAustralian Leader Rudd has recommitted to keeping his 1000 soldiers in Afghanistan. And now President Sarkozy's in Afghanistan and wanting to commit more French soldiers(in addition to the 1900) to the mission there. As our mission in Iraq gets better, we'll be able to put more emphasis in this theater of the war against terrorist.
How the world is changing and Democrats just can't keep up.
Posted by peter at December 22, 2007 01:08 PMpeter- um, yeah- it would be nice to win the war in the country that actually had something to do with 9/11. maybe we should have done that first.
as for things getting better in iraq- continue to enjoy your delusion. better yet- go help. they can use the manpower, and we know you really care.
Posted by Turkana at December 22, 2007 01:11 PMHey little pee-ter...acting like the repuke ostrich with his head in the sand...just because you don't hear about Iraq in the news (the villagers/pundit and media is tired and bored of the story) doesn't mean things are better. How's that gov't coming along peter...and oh yeah just read how Turkey just bombed sites in Northern Iraq...again....of course the USA is greenlighting these "targeted" attacks...that ought to go over big with the Iraqi's in that region of the country I imagine. And I'm certain the family and friends of the troops killed today think things are going just swell. 3 billion dollars a month for what again...oh yeah the oil.
Posted by emal at December 22, 2007 04:08 PMMe and Harry Reid, John Murtha, Baird, many others, all delusional. Such nice company I keep. That's OK Turkana, If this is delusional, what an high I'm on. Congress continues to fund the war, they give this president money without restrictions, they give him a FISA bill, more than he asked for. This congress is just so giving, I'm touched. I feel like Bill Murray all of a sudden.
Posted by peter at December 22, 2007 09:15 PMin case you missed it, peter, the murtha story was misreported. and reid does not think the surge is working:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/1207/Reid_pushes_back_on_Iraq_optimism.html
but, yes- you're in good company, with baird.
Posted by Turkana at December 22, 2007 10:01 PMI fully expected the meme to take hold, but still.. I find it disgusting that people are willing to buy "the surge is working" with nary a clue as to the details of the situation.
The Ugly American rules.
Posted by Simp at December 23, 2007 01:39 AMI guess since the "surge" has worked so well (how's that political reconciliation going?), that pants pissing peter will soon go to Baghdad and personally report
fucking yellow cur, you'll soon be celebrating Christmas while thousands of American families (AND Iraqi) have been destroyed because their loved ones died for Bush's lies in Iraq
Posted by gay veteran at December 23, 2007 08:58 AM