Are we serioiusly defending "war turf"

[sandnsea]

Come on people. There wasn't a hairs difference between Kerry's Home for the Holidays which would have kick-started withdrawal, and Murtha's redeployment plan. Here we are, 6 months later, people still dying. Two Deadlines and an Exit is a good plan, it has everything people have told me they want in an Iraq plan. Giving Iraq an ultimatum, opportunity for a summit, and a peaceful resolution; or withdrawal. It's a good plan. It also incorporates redeploying Special Ops for hard intelligence terrorist targets, like Murtha's plan.

Are we really going to get in a spitting match like we did over "Out now" or "Phased Withdrawal". Are we really going to let "liberal turf wars" keep us from pushing the Party leadership to get behind a plan that will work and end this war?

This is Iraq's chance, this is our chance. Let's not wait 6 more months, or god forbid, 6 more years to get behind a plan to end this war.

[karynnj]

1. Good point - and this is a seriously good plan

[Clarkie1]

2. We could.

I think aspects of Kerry's plan make a lot of sense. The trouble is, we are the opposition party. No Democratic Plan will end this war in the near-term, because we are not in power...specifically, we are not in power in the executive branch. It is in the executive branch where the key decisions, or indecisions will be made which will lead to at best a C- solution in Iraq, and most probably an F.

When a specific plan would work best (and I'm not saying Kerry speaking up isn't a good thing now...all Dems should speak their mind), is in 08', and who knows what the situation in Iraq (or other crises spot) will be then? Nobody.

It is good that Dems keep the pressure on, and many of these plans being set forth have a lot in common...they are all putting pressure on the current administration to change their priorities and approach, and none of them are simply "cut and run"; they all recognize time is running out, and we need to apply pressure, the end result is up to the Iraqis, we need to have a real regional dialogue, and any "window of opportunity" is rapidly closing. My hope is that with the specific plans being put forward, Americans will hear the common thread that Democrats are for doing everything possible for success in Iraq IF POSSIBLE, but time is rapidly RUNNING OUT. The most important thing now is that Americans hear that Democrats are a Party of real ideas to change our nation's course, in contrast to the monolithic, narrow-minded neo-con ideology in control of the leadership of the Republican Party.

[sandnsea]

3. We can end this war this year

If the entire Democratic Party gets behind a good plan to do it, and push the people to get behind that, like we did with social security; we can pressure Bush to change course and end this thing. Or convince the people that electing a Democratic Congress will allow us the leverage to force Bush to change course.

What's important is that we coalesce behind a strategy. The window of opportunity is closing, tme ir running out, the Iraqis only respond to deadlines; those are all good things to move forward on and we ought to do it and force the leadership to do it too.

[LittleClarkie]

4. Also, who said what when and so gets credit?

I'm sure Murtha, Kerry and Feingold don't mind sharing room on the bandwagon. What's important is the message. It ain't a race.

[WildEyedLiberal]

5. I know, I don't know why people are making it into a competition

You're in Sensenbrenner's district, aren't you, LC?

My condolences. :(

[LittleClarkie]

6. Yawp. Waukesha County. But I'm happy tonight

because in Waukesha the City, a Dem mayor just got elected. Take that, Sensenbrenner, you bastard. One of the biggest cities right in the middle of his district. Hah.

[sandnsea]

7. Ginny posted that too

In the Kerry forum. That must feel oh so good!!