Too bad the Democrats don't have more like this man.
Gov. Tom Vilsack Calls for Immediate End to Iraq War Funding
Gov. Tom Vilsack painted himself as an outsider and a truth-teller before members of the Democratic National Committee on Saturday, calling for an immediate end to financing for the war in Iraq.
"Congress has the constitutional responsibility and a moral obligation to do it now," Vilsack said, to cheers, in a clear shot at opponents such as Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, who said Friday that there aren't the votes in Congress for a speedy pullout.
"Those who voted for the war, those who voted to continue to support the war, those who voted to continue funding the war, can surely vote to stop the war," Vilsack said. "As an insider, it's difficult to effect change. ... As an outsider, we can change things. ... We win as outsiders."
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070204/NEWS09/702040340/-1/ENT06
Christopher, the Dems have plenty more like Vilsack. They are in our cities, out in the country, all ages and walks of life. At least 61-70% of the country feels just like he feels. It is the elected Democrats that need to see the same light. The country is with him, the Congressmen are the ones currently shivering in the corner at the threat of a nasty GOP filibuster or being painted as anti-troops by a bunch of crooks who never served in the military.
Posted by T2 at February 5, 2007 02:21 PMT2,
Maybe that's why governors keep getting elected president over senators? They're more in-touch with the vox populi?
I like your characterization: shivering in the corner. The Congress makes me physically sick.
Posted by Christopher at February 5, 2007 02:26 PMPerhaps they just need some encouragement and enlightenment, after all, they do represent us in Congress.
Posted by Duckman GR at February 5, 2007 03:02 PM"At least 61-70% of the country feels just like he feels."
Surely the Democrats read the same polls. You can always persuade people if you present your case in a clear and concise manner. That's what the Congress needs to do and then stop the funding for the War.
Posted by Judith at February 5, 2007 03:05 PMthe Congressmen are the ones currently shivering in the corner at the threat of a nasty GOP filibuster or being painted as anti-troops
No shivering, unless they have their heads full of dreams of lobbyest supplied sugar plums. You are going to get the best budget money can buy. Brent Wilkes only had to pony-up $700,000.00 dollars to get $100,000,000.00 (100 million) in taxpayer money. That's a bargain! Can I send $700.00 to my congressman and get $100,000.00? Hell, I can scrape together $7,000. Do I send it directly to Princess Sparkle Pelosi for my $1,000,000.00 (million) or does it still need to go to a republicon, since they appear to be running things?
after all, they do represent us in Congress.
Hell, Wal-Mart had to give $11,000,000.00 to get $54,000,000.00 in taxbreaks under the republi-cons. The Democrats had better do better than this because look at what a terrible example Wilkes set. I bet Wal-Mart is pissed! For their $11 million they should have gotten tax free status. I hope the Democrats we voted for can treat their constituents better than the republi-cons did.
Surely the Democrats read the same polls.
And that Lockheed Martin only had to shell out a little over $7,000,000.00 in lobby payments to Congress to become the single largest American defense contractor. I bet Wal-Mart is really pissed about that!
It's tough to get real value for your lobby dollars if you ask me. What happened to the good old days of Ray-gun when lobby dollars really seemed to stretch.
Yep, those Democrats are really gonna take care of things. Look at the lobbys contributing to them and then you'll know who they're gonna take care of. BTW: It isn't you.
$700 billion dollars for war in one year--more than the budgets of all but about 14 countries in the world--is obscene. It is the very definition of obscenity, while Katrina needs, and health care needs of 47 million Americans go absolutely unaddressed. Go ahead, Republicans, just try to justify this!
Charles
Posted by charles moore at February 5, 2007 05:32 PMI'm beginning to think that the only way we the people will ever get the idiots that represent us to do the will of the people which seems to be " Get us the hell out of Iraq" is to somehow get organized enough to fill the streets of Washington with a couple million people and stay there till something is done. Threaten revolution!!!
Posted by chris at February 5, 2007 05:42 PMApparently Congress is being asked yet again to fund the premise of the Unitary Executive...the perfect, never ending war.
As Russ Feingold commented tonight, Congress needs to hear directly from the American public, NOW!
Posted by mainsailset at February 5, 2007 05:58 PM$700 billion dollars for war in one year
Doesn't tell the whole story. There will still be appropropriations for what isn't covered in the budget. We're still paying the debt on past wars. The "real" military budget is more like $1.2 trillion dollars.
And this lovely budget the Mad King, idiot son of George, submitted is about $10,000. dollars for every person, or $22,000.00 per individual taxpayer, in the United States. That's 1 year's budget. Boy, are you people going to be in debt in 5 years! You will find me sipping high octane drinks from coconut shells on some deserted beach...with a satellite uplink and monkey powered generator set. I don't intend to rough it.
Posted by phidipides at February 5, 2007 06:01 PMThis crisis is being brought about by a unified block of Red State Repub senators. Hagel and Warner voted against debating their own resolution!
These Red State Repubs have the power to show America that our Constitution is no longer viable, and they are doing so. Our Constitution is failing as a result of this Repub policy of placing party over country and constitution.
If a majority of Red Staters now oppose the continuing Iraq occupation despite having blindly voted for Bush (again) and Repub senators (again), THEY are the ones the Red State Repubs need to hear from.
The other senators from the rest of the country know that something needs to be done, but the senate's traditional rules won't allow it. Bushco and the Repubs have broken our form of government, and I am coming to doubt it can be repaired.
Posted by euzoius at February 5, 2007 06:15 PM