(House)Dems labor for sure majority on pullout

[maddezmom]

Source: Associated Press

Dems labor for sure majority on pullout By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent
4 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - On the eve of a critical vote, House Democrats labored Thursday to lock down a majority behind a Sept. 1, 2008, date for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq, the sternest test yet for a determined new majority eager to challenge President Bush.

"If it comes off it's a superb accomplishment," said Rep. Barney Frank (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass., as the party's leaders cajoled liberals who want an even faster timetable and moderates fearful of tying the hands of the commander in chief and generals in the field.

Democratic aides expressed growing confidence of success when the vote is called, which could be as early as Friday. As evidence, they pointed to support from several longtime opponents of the war.

"I want this war ended today. If I thought it would help this war ending sooner by voting against the bill, I would vote against it in a heartbeat," said Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, who sponsored legislation for a troop withdrawal in 2005.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070322/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq

[Raven]

1. I'm too old for this!

In the cold, in the hot sun, in the rain, in the snow, working for these people only to have them go to Washington and tell me..."well, we tried, well, you know how it is." Well no, I goddamned don't. You folks are there to do what we elected you to do, what you told us you would do...end this ------- war! Now we have pork and speeches about how I would vote for this in a minute...but....but...but....and excuses and calls for us to wait and be patient. Between them and the moveon debacle I am utterly pissed. The guy up there who I broke my ass for should really worry that I, and a bunch of folks that I worked with, are out looking for a candidate to oppose him the next time around...somebody who will have some guts. We were one of the groups that got him elected and we will get him unelected, goddamnit!

You know, they all point to someone else for blocking a real vote on this war..."we tried but the conservative democrats were in the way...or the repubicans blocked this...or if I don't vote for the Pelosi bill, I'm voting for the war." Bullshit, all of it. Pelosi has milked this thing so that she now consolidates her power...the power of the pork...same old, same old. Tell you what folks, don't vote for pork and don't vote for the Pelosi piece of shit. Vote for what your constituents wanted, vote for what is right, vote to end this war...not to end this war with strings and huge loopholes and outs and hedged bets. Vote to end this war. You might be surprised how much support you really have. And...one more thing...don't dare talk politics to me about this...just don't unless you plan to feed the same crap to the parents of some young hero who passes away on your watch...hear that? YOUR WATCH.

[Dr Fate]

2. Folks- lets stop accepting "We dont have the votes" as excuse # 567.

Let's demand that they put issues we care about up for a vote regardless- I for one want a head count of which "Blue Dogs" & DLCers side with Bush instead of with me- whether we can win or not.

[Rose Siding]

3. I hope it passes. Even this will probably get stuck in the Senate

If this is what it took to get a concensus, I accept it as a first step. It really isn't as though it's a realistic choice between this and some more demanding legislation (even though that is what I'd prefer)