Agree with Joe Lockhardt--Blow This & We're Gone in '04

[Starpass]

Was busy and not able to get much news over the last week (have to wade through conjoined twins and rape cases to hear any real news). Did catch parts of Inside Politics yesterday and must admit that it sickened me. At the end Joe Lockhardt really hit the nail on the head regarding the Dems.

First part dealt with report on how the $87B "asking" is going in Congress. Apparently, all is going "swimmingly". They reported Daschle stated that it will go through easily with little objection and no strings attached. Some amendments will be offered and then blown away (guess that's intended to make them look like fighters). They reviewed some of the statements of our candidates and apparently there is enough "fudge" there to feed a small state, etc. Remember, these were the boys who just days ago in the debate spewed their passion against the "discretionary" 25B, etc. and said they would fight it.

Then Joe Lockhardt was on. He said (in reference to a new poll where 57% of the people want this $87B defeated)that if the Democrats don't stand up and fight this, they will NOT be elected in '04---I totally agree. He said that in regard to this infighting we have with our candidates regarding "insiders" vs "outsiders", usually the advantage is to outsiders because they can shoot off their mouths but never have to put their vote where their rhetoric is. However, in this case it's the insiders who have the great advantage to really lead and surpass the outsiders. He called on Senators Kerry, Lieberman, Edwards and Rep. Gephardt to get their butts back to D.C. and lead the fight (know that Dennis is voting against already). He predicted that the one who will do this and be screaming vocal will raise his status very fast within the ranks of Dems.

Folks, if I don't see any of them LEAD (and I mean 'lead') this fight and just let this thing pass without much fanfare, I will know that everyone of those "insiders" are further inside than we imagine. In a word, they must be totally controlled by the slimy bastards who are getting the exclusive contracts in Iraq just like this administration dances for those same contractors. If they don't lead on this, wipe them off your "to vote for" list.

[liberalhistorian]

1. I agree,

Kerry, Edwards, Gephardt, and ESPECIALLY Holy Joe LIEberman are not doing the party any favors at all right now, they need to get some backbone and quit kowtowing at the feet of the Boy King Impostor. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening, especially when it comes to Kerry or Lieberman.

[La_Serpiente]

2. Does anyone think that Edwards has a chance?

I seriously think he might win in the South and amongst Black voters. There is Wesley Clark, but his campaign and tone is still developing.

[Cocoa]

7. I think Edwards has a chance

I'm impressed every time I see him. I'm trying to figure out why he's not a front-runner. I think there's a chance he could catch on, and become one.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

3. I bet Halliburton owns a few Democrats too

That's the problem, and the reason you won't get any leadership from Dems in Congress on this one, or much of anything (DK is the exception, as usual). Always remember that both Democrats and Republicans are members of the Business Party first and foremost.

[bearfartinthewoods]

9. have you heard Edwards stand on this?

you might want to remove him from your list of 'do nothings' and add him to the short list of leaders in this fight.

[Starpass]

10. they cited Edwards in the report

and put him in the "fudge" category so to speak. In other words, none of them are heading home to lead the fight; just yacking about it.

[DemBones DemBones]

20. AFAIK, Dennis continues running back to DC for votes, and he is

organizing the fight against giving Bush* the $87 billion. But don't look for the media to give him any attention. Did you see the time figures for the most recent debate. Dean got the most time, 14 minutes, and Kucinich got the least, 5 minutes, with Braun and Sharpton getting 8 minutes each. The powers that be don't want the voters to get to know Dennis.

[RichM]

17. Edwards said yesterday he will vote against the $87 billion.

http://edwards.senate.gov/press/2003/1014a-pr.html

[Octafish]

4. Agreed: We need FIGHTING Democrats!

The ONLY way the Media Monopoly will raise its lazy arse off the OJ sofa and do some real coverage of the Democratic candidates and their positions is when there's a battle royale in Congress between those supporting the crazy moron and those against his imperial chimpancy.

Why does it take Joe Lockhart to figure this stuff out? Who gives the DEM candidates advice? Karl Rove?

[Armstead]

5. Nail on the head

You got it. The Media Monopoly loves a good story. The problem isn;t that the Monoipolists favor Republicans in their coverage, or dwell on the petty foibles of Democrats.

The problem is that Democrats don't toss in any real raw meat for a good old fashioned political brawl that has real substance and meaning to it. They pick at the edges and whine -- but no real fight. (With some exceptions like DK.)

It's the same thing with the economy. By dwelling on the job losses and economic downside of the cycle the Democrats are setting themselves up for a big fall when the cycle picks up again -- as it inevitably will. Instead Democrats ought to be challenging the fundamental restructuting that has been occurring for the last 25 years.

[ewagner]

8. Good point!

The Political Brawl should become the story. But it needs a hook !

The hook to the brawl should be the rampant corruption in the $26B rebuilding portion of the Bill. The winning issue for the Dems in a soundbite is:

Support of $26 Billion is Support of Corruption!

[calimary]

23. CALL THEM and give calcium supplements to their spines - TOLL FREE:

The TOLL FREE Capitol Hill Switchboard number is ...

1 (800) 839 - 5276.

Call this number and they'll transfer you to anybody's office in the House and/or Senate.

TELL THEM YOU WANT NO MORE FUNDING FOR IRAQ!!!

NOT ANOTHER NICKEL!!!

AND DEMAND A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR FOR "TRAITOR-GATE" !!!!!!!!!

Folks, friends, fellow DUers, we have absolutely GOT to do this!!! If there's gonna be a drip-drip-drip, we have to keep the bad guys from turning the faucet off. You see anybody else out there doing it? Okay, then, it IS up to us.

DO IT!!! TOLL FREE DOESN'T COST ANYTHING!!!

[Flying_Pig]

6. I also agree. There are far too many Dems helping Bush,...

PNAC, and the Republicans. Everytime they vote to give Israel more money, or for something like Syrian sanctions (which a bunch of Dems voted for last week), they are helping PNAC, Bush, and Sharon/Likud. Vis-a-vis these votes, they are also helping further PNAC/Bush's war plans, and Bush's "re-election" plans.

Why would any Dem support these things? This is a question we need to ask. For many, it is their blind support for Israel. But Israel right now, is fully allied with Bush and PNAC, yet they continue to support these bunch of fascists. If Israel were run by Hitler himself right now, some of these people would still vote to give them more money, and push for more war. It's wrong. It's morally wrong. This vote on the $87B is the same. Why would they vote to help Bush accomplish his goals? They need to remember the word O-P-P-O-S-I-T-I-O-N!!

:grr:

[MadHound]

13. Short and quick answer FP

They're looking out for the interests of their TRUE constituents, you know, the ones who pay big into their campaign warchests.

Once again we have a glaring example of the two party/one corporate master syndrome that Greens have been talking about for years. The only chance we as a country have to get the folks in government to listen to us is two fold. One, push through public campaign financing, by whatever means neccessary. Second, do not support a candidate who takes campaign contributions from corporations. The only one I know of on the Dem side is Dennis Kucinich. And of course, there are the Greens who never ever take corporate money.

A defintion of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting the a different result. By continously voting for Dems who take corporate money yet expecting them to represent us, we are exhibiting a form of insanity. It is time to break that mold with public campaign financing, so that our reps are truly beholden to us, not corporations.

[kentuck]

11. They don't have the cojones....

to vote against it. They don't even hve the courage to ask for an accounting of the $79 billion that was appropriated just 6 months ago. For fear of looking unpatriotic, they would prefer the other option.

[cspiguy]

12. if they block it, the * misadmin will lie and say that we blocked

aid to troops - even though that is only part of it after the "billions for buddies" (tm) program. (replaces Oil for Palaces UN program)

[NewYorkerfromMass]

14. The bottom line: Will this money help "secure" Iraq?

Will it make Iraqis safer? Will it make our troops safer?
The Dems cannot stand in the way of anything which will impede any "progress" being made toward achieving a state whereby all of our troops can go home. I don't care about the polls. I don't care about "billions for buddies" That's Bush's cross to bear. (This whole debacle is actually).
We're in treading water mode right now, and though these billions may be the most inefficiently spent dollars possible, if the goal will result in a stabilized Iraq then we have to throw this good money after bad. Because sooner or later some good will result.
Again, this is Bush's poor decision making and crummy leadership which got us here, so fuck it all and onward to the next stage.

In the end, Bush will reap the bitter fruit of this fuck up. NOT the Dems.

[neebob]

15. What can I say but

Go Dennis. Last night I watched his announcement speech in full and realized he's the only candidate I can feel really good about voting for. Even if I didn't agree with him on everything else, his refusal to support the war is enough reason to vote for him. Sure, I'll support whoever wins the nomination, but I'll feel a lot better about it if it's Kucinich.

[THUNDER HANDS]

16. I think it would by hypocritical

To support the war, continue doing so and defending your position, then balk at paying for it.

I'm not sure what Joe Lockhart is talking about.

[dpbrown]

18. Kucinich is fighting it as well as voting against it

I think it shows the depth of his leadership on this issue. I wish more Democrats would show his strength on the important matter of fighting against the Bush madness.

[MuseRider]

21. And the problem here for DK

is that most people will never know about this or will only know that he wants the US out and "Saddam in" (THANKS bow tie boy). The other problem is that whenever he gets a chance to speak he hits this issue hard and gets bashed about his "one" issue.

[Donna Zen]

19. Clark's position this morning

He said that money considerations should follow not precede a detail plan and exit strategy from bush. No details=no $$$

[dkf]

22. Does Clark ever commit to anything?

He took so long to figure out if he was running and then he's incredibly wishy washy on most issues coming up.

He's beginning to drive me batty.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

24. I disagree (a little)

I think that's the right call. Bush is saying, "Give me money and I'll give you a plan." Talk about buying a pig in a poke! Unless the * Administration is willing to give a detailed plan -- with timelines for U.S. disengagement, therer shouldn't be any money appropriated.