Will Iraq Become the Democrats' War?

[Dammit Ann]

From TomDispatch, a very well-written piece about the current Democratic situation.

I'll quote a bit, but it's not too long, please, read at link...

http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=171335


Can Congress End the War?
Democratic Leaders May Prefer to Claim They Tried But Failed
By David Swanson

The shortest route to ending the Iraq war (and preventing additional wars) is almost certainly through Congress. Influencing the White House directly is unimaginable, and stopping the war through the courts unlikely. Clearly, Congress is the way to go. But what specifically can Congress do?

How We Got Here

The peace movement lobbied a Republican Congress without success for four years. Then, on November 7, 2006, the American public elected a Democratic Congress in a clear mandate delivered at the polls. Not a single new Republican was elected, and 30 new Democrats were ushered in, with voters overwhelmingly telling pollsters that they were voting against the war; and by "against the war," they meant "against the war," not "against the escalation." Remember, the President's "surge" into Baghdad had not yet been announced.

Voters also appeared to be voting for accountability and possibly for the launching of impeachment hearings as well. Polls prior to the election found that a majority of Americans believed a Democratic Congress would impeach. Candidates who campaigned on the theme of accountability, including Keith Ellison (Dem., Minnesota) who promised impeachment, did well. Polls show that a majority of Americans favor impeachment or wish Bush's presidency were over. Voters in November even booted out a couple of Republicans who had turned against the war, saying that they were voting for a Democratic majority so that the Democrats could investigate the war as well as end it -- something a majority of Americans continue to say they want.

Prior to the election, Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi had already ordered the Democrats in the House to oppose impeachment, but she had not ordered them to support the war. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), chaired by Congressman Rahm Emanuel, however, directed most of its financial support to candidates who did not call for ending the war. Of the 22 candidates funded by the DCCC, only 8 won. The rest of the victorious Democratic challengers, many of them strongly opposed to the war, got themselves elected without Emanuel's help.

more at link...

http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=171335

[muntrv]

1. Not if the Dems use their power of the purse.

[theoldman]

2. The Democrats will inherit the war from Bush.

It will go on for many years even if we start pulling some of the troupes out. The next president will have to live with the war in Iraq for as long as he/she is in office.

[AtomicKitten]

3. The Democrats bought in with their IWR vote.

Let's just say it is their war to bring to a screeching halt, if they dare.

[Wwagsthedog]

5. Well said! nt

[MannyGoldstein]

4. Yes, They Will Inherit The War

As a group, they are choosing craven triangulation over doing the right thing. Much more blood and treasure will be lost as a result. The American People will know that they are the Do-Nothing Dems - and when the Do-Nothing Dems meet a set of brand-new pink-cheeked Hitler Youth in the next election - Rethugs with an actual agenda, and without the baggage of screaming incompetence - things may not go well for the Dems.

[Dammit Ann]

6. Scary.

True, I'm afraid. I hold no grand illusions that the momentum started will hold true if they don't make a move. And FAST.

[Ninja Jordan]

7. no