Democrats Alter Plan To Restrict Iraq War --WaPo

[Demeter]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/05/AR2007030501604_pf.html



Democrats Alter Plan To Restrict Iraq War
Waiver for Bush, Benchmarks Sought

By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 6, 2007; A01



Senior House Democrats, seeking to placate members of their party from Republican-leaning districts, are pushing a plan that would place restrictions on President Bush's ability to wage the war in Iraq but would allow him to waive them if he publicly justifies his position.

Under the proposal, Bush would also have to set a date to begin troop withdrawals if the Iraqi government fails to meet benchmarks aimed at stabilizing the country that the president laid out in January.

The plan is an attempt to bridge the differences between anti-war Democrats, led by Rep. John P. Murtha (Pa.), who have wanted to devise standards of troop readiness strict enough to force Bush to delay some deployments and bring some troops home, and Democrats wary of seeming to place restrictions on the president's role as commander in chief.

....The new plan would demand that Bush certify that combat troops meet the military's own standards of readiness, which are routinely ignored. The president could then waive such certifications if doing so is in "the national interest."






Staff writers Shailagh Murray and Lyndsey Layton contributed to this report.


Learn More About John McCain's Views On bush war
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[rox63]

1. The problem is

He'll probably just waive them by publicly declaring once again the he's the "decider".

[Demeter]

2. Yup. Congress Should Just Go and Do the Right Thing--Stop Playing Cute

[BeyondGeography]

3. In this case, Dumbya has a right to smirk

He still has the hammer. Sounds like we're setting a new standard for irrelevancy with this one.

[Roland99]

4. What a joke.

[mike_c]

5. oh for pete's sake....

This is just shameful. What a bunch of spineless idiots.

[leftchick]

6. they never fail to disappoint

never. :(

[hashibabba]

7. This is ridiculous! Congress is really making me angry.

Bush won't hesitate to publicly announce it! He doesn't care what anyone thinks, remember? This won't stop him, it will only encourage him!

[ShortnFiery]

12. Then vote the bums out with me!

Vote Out Incumbents Democracy! :-)

http://voidnow.org

VOID's Goal: Responsible Government. VOID's Mission: Make reelection depend upon effective, good governance and solving America's difficult issues.

[Akoto]

8. A few months in, Congress is already a failure.

They're already falling back on making friendly, when they don't realize that politicians on the other side of the aisle don't give a damn about friendship. They want their way.

Congress shouldn't be placating anyone. They should carrying out the will of their electorate, which is to END this conflict.

[HuffleClaw]

9. "but would allow him to waive them if he publicly justifies his position."

WHAT THE FUCK point is that? spineless fucking idiots. i'm disgusted by this continued refusal to stand up to the insane jingoism of bush. he's just a guy! a man child bully with the mental capacity of a fetal alcohol syndrome afflicted three-legged shit addicted to glue-sniffing. ALL the democrats need to do is stand as one and simply say, 'NO!'. just ONCE would be enough. he'd crack. bullies back down when faced with overwhelming opposition.

[ShortnFiery]

10. gutless, dumba** Congress! n/t

[fed-up]

11. What about Representing WE THE PEOPLE!!!! n/t

[deutsey]

13. Same as it ever was....

:evilfrown:

[NotGivingUp]

14. stage show....let's get on with some real action. n/t