Anti-war Dems face dilemma over Iraq

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070312/ap_on_go_co/iraq_liberals;_ylt=AhBEaiz2NRqRBglXLd0gu2ms0NUE

Anti-war Dems face dilemma over Iraq

By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer 35 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The closest thing Congress has to a peace movement — 71 liberals who want to yank Iraq funding and bring troops home swiftly — faces a dilemma: The lawmakers can back a Democratic plan they think is too weak, or they can block it and risk an embarrassing defeat for their cause.


It falls to one of their strongest allies, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif. — whose San Francisco district is passionately against the war — to persuade them to accept a less aggressive stance.

Pelosi is working feverishly to scrounge together enough Democratic votes to pass a war-spending measure that would force the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq by 2008. Leaders circulated a draft Monday, and the House is set to weigh in on it as early as next week.

Many of the liberals, who sometimes refer to themselves as the "Out of Iraq" caucus, are adamantly opposed to the funding bill in any form. They argue it would prolong the war,and are angry that leading Democrats are not pushing for a quicker withdrawal.

"There's a significant number of people who are steadfast in not continuing this war, who absolutely don't want to fund the surge and who want to give a voice to the people who voted on Nov. 7 and asked us to end this once and for all," said Rep. Lynn Woolsey (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., a leader of the Progressive Caucus.

[BOSSHOG]

1. I don't see it as a dilemma for them

The one's who have a dilemma are bush and his allies. Our kids are getting slaughtered, our military armament is being shredded, the national guard is being ruined and those who want to get us out of Iraq have a dilemma? I wish them well with their endeavor. We've been hearing things will get better in six months for 4 years now. Its not getting better and its time to bring those kids home.

[rodeodance]

3. conservative and moderate Democrats refusing to consider a faster timetable

Voters are "asking us to be bold. They're begging us to take action," Woolsey said.

But with conservative and moderate Democrats refusing to consider a faster timetable or a cutoff of war funding, party leaders have had to steer a more centrist course on Iraq.

They point to polls that show the public opposes cutting off funding or revoking President Bush's authority for the war but backs bringing home troops by next year. They argue that their measure can at least make Bush report to Congress any time he deploys a unit that doesn't meet training or readiness standards, or has not spent at least a year at home between tours.

Some left-of-center Democrats say they recognize their party's delicate position, and are coming around to the idea of supporting an Iraq measure that falls short of what they want.

"If you push too far, you may get nothing," said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y. "I'll be attacked by people at home saying it's not perfect. It's not. We don't have the votes to pass something that's perfect. It's the best we can get."

[BOSSHOG]

4. If you push too far you may get nothing??

Oh, okay. Now I understand Nadler. Keep those body bags coming back to the U. S. Lets not push too far. Lets keep getting our kids killed because bush is a liar as we rub our hands about not being perfect.

[leftchick]

8. they are using weasel words

that fact is they are all scared to appear "soft on terra" in the election cycle. Fucking assholes.

[Vincardog]

6. polls that show the public opposes cutting off funding or revoking President Bush's authority

What polls? 60% want us out. Maybe FAUX polls show it differently.

[rodeodance]

2. Its the Progresive Plan vs the Pelosi Plan.

[Raven]

5. The progressives are right on this.

Barbara Lee's amendment, which you can read on her website, calls for funding the withdrawal of troops and contractors from Iraq by the end of December 2007. As she notes, this is what the majority of the American people want.

As far as I am cencerned, the Leadership proposal is bullshit and is beginning to be an insult to my intelligence. Who really thinks that Bush is going to tell the truth about meeting benchmarks? Who really thinks that we'll be able to control the actions of troops allowed to remain to training exercises? As long as Bush is in power this war will go on and more kids will die. What do you say to the parents of a kid killed in the next two years? "Well, we did the politically expedient thing" "Sorry, the democrats in Congress just didn't have the courage to put an end to this travesty." And while Congress has hearings, injured and mentally wounded soldiers will be sent back to the front lines. Nope, not a decent option in my book.

When something is wrong, it's wrong. This war is not a little wrong or not quite wrong enough be begin ending now. It's totally and completely wrong and needs to be stopped now. Why anyone is worried that the US will look like a quitter if we do the right thing is beyond me. The whole world knows that we got into this war based on lies and misrepresentations and the world is now watching to see if anyone in this Congress has any guts and whether the votes of the American people in November mean anything at all.

I, for one, am going to hold my newly elected congressman accountable if he votes with the leadership and I'm not alone. By 2008 it will be clear that a vote for the leadership proposal was a real mistake. By then it will be too late for a lot of dead kids and their families and I'll vote for them in November 2008.

[BayCityProgressive]

7. The 71 Liberals

In the Progressive Caucus may as well be their own political party. They differ from the GOP and the DLC majority on nearly every important issue from the war, to trade, to healthcare, to education, to a social safety net.

[Bobbieo]

9. It is time for us to get out of this civil war in Iraq WHEN

the military and Bush are sending wounded soldiers back to Iraq!!!!

[Raven]

10. I know, but,

on the war, I don't think they differ from the American people.

[ends_dont_justify]

11. Shouldn't be an issue

Republicans got to this level of damage by being reckless and pushing things they didn't know would work. The democrats need to start fighting back now. Not politely signaling they disagree -- this country is at political war, and the rest of the world hates us like never before. The democrats need to stop worrying about their photo ops and start fighting like they mean it. Those filthy cads in the opposition seats want to ruin this country for their wallets. Don't they see that?

[jaxx]

12. There is no dilemma, get them out of there.

This crap about stepping on pub toes is not the issue. Stopping our troops from getting killed should be the #1 priority. Toes be damned.