About the Iraq vote

[ibegurpard]

Let me explain why this matters so much to me. I can't speak for anyone else but I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels this way.
Following the election in 2000 and particularly following September 11, I was willing to give Bush the benefit of the doubt, as I'm sure a lot of Democrats were. He took that trust and pissed on it with his implementation of an far-right agenda that belied his campaign and took advantage of the trust that people were willing to give him. So every time he proposed some new policy or initiative that made my blood boil, I waited for all the Democratic officials to begin assaulting his radical agenda. It never happened. Sure there were murmurings here and there and they did manage to stop some extremist judges and a few pieces of legislation but nothing to match the breathtaking scope of radicalism and corruption with which the Bush administration was choking this country.
Then came last summer and suddenly they began floating the "invade Iraq" trial balloon. Many people saw this coming and tried to head it off at the pass. It continued. Thousands upon thousands of people were in the streets protesting and calling their elected representatives to put a stop to this obvious political ploy. When they chose to ignore it, it was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, at least for me. I can't forgive it; it was a betrayal.
I am sorry if the candidate you are backing is one of the politicians that I am describing. Yes, I will vote for whoever is opposing Bush but I have no confidence that anything will change in Washington if it is one of the ones that voted for that resolution.

[joshdawg]

1. I agree!

But on the other hand, if the President had been Democrat, the outcry would have been deafening. Maybe we would not have invaded a country that was no threat to us. Hmmmmmmm!

[ibegurpard]

2. I think you may be right

My purpose in posting this was to explain why it IS such a big deal, at least for me, to those that argue that it was just one vote and one issue.

[Q]

3. Not so sure you're right...

...when you say (many?) Democrats were willing to give Bush* a 'chance'. His attitude during the campaign and the recount exposed him for the lying, arrogant asshole he has always been.

- Given that the most naive person should have been able to see this scam from the beginning...it makes one wonder why the Bushies were allowed to attain so much power by circumventing the Constitution, Congress and the law.

- The Patriot Act(s) and the illegal/immoral invasion of Iraq can't be excused in the context of a Democracy and representative government. Some Democrats (like Byrd) knew full well what the Bushies were up to...and the New Democratic Leadership ignored his warnings to protect their career instead of the rights of the American people. Unforgiveable.

[ibegurpard]

4. I agree

And when I say I was willing to give Bush a chance, it's because I didn't want to think that my worst fears about him were real and they were.

[sandnsea]

5. And Dean supported war

I'll never get it. Dean supported war if Iraq didn't disarm. Said it. Doesn't matter to some people.

I understand the war vote position coming from Kucinich supporters, Dennis was and is clear on his position.

Dean? No way.