Kerry seeks liberal-cred - calls for withdrawl by the end of the year...

[BlooInBloo]

It's obviously a move to gear up for a Presidential run, no?

It's still the right thing, of course...

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/4/4/225747/5243

"If Iraq's leaders succeed in putting together a government, then we must agree on another deadline: a schedule for withdrawing American combat forces by year's end. Doing so will empower the new Iraqi leadership, put Iraqis in the position of running their own country and undermine support for the insurgency, which is fueled in large measure by the majority of Iraqis who want us to leave their country. Only troops essential to finishing the job of training Iraqi forces should remain."

[WildEyedLiberal]

1. "Feingold seeks liberal cred - calls for censure of Bush"

How does that sound? Because it's essentially the same thing.

I believe BOTH men are acting out of the true conviction of their hearts, and EVERY Democrat should praise them both for their bravery and vision, instead of tearing them down for offering a real alternative to Bush's war and death.

[onehandle]

2. AMEN!

This is why I posted the link DIRECTLY to the Op-Ed in the "Editorials & Other Articles" forum.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x201578

The Op-Ed:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/opinion/05kerry.html

[globalvillage]

5. Agree, WEL

Sometimes people just do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.
This is one of those times.

Hope everyone's calling their elected officials and telling them to BACK THIS PLAN!!!!


May 15. It's a date.

[Blaukraut]

6. Indeed, WEL

Feingold and Kerry's motives should be above suspicion for all of us.

[ProSense]

3. Two Deadlines and an Exit! Bring our troops home! n/t

[fedupinBushcountry]

Give me a break

The man has been on top of this all along. Sorry he has rained on your parade.

This has nothing to do with politics it has to do with getting our troops home NOW, and ending Bush's blunder.

Walk a day in his shoes, and talk your trash.

[saltpoint]

4. It could be a run-up to an 08 campaign, but you're right to say

it's a good thing anyways.

Senator Kerry knows his constituency, and so his words here are not going to alienate many Massachusetts Democrats.

And he already knows he does not have the hearts of deep-fried Republican Bush voters in Alabama.

So I think part of his saying this so well (as usual) and so strongly (as is called for) is that it puts still more pressure on the Bush administration to defend its undefendable lying about the war, and it makes it harder for the GOP to blather on about "discernible progress" in Iraq. Because if there's been progress, where the hell IS it?

If the Bush team has a substantive counter to Kerry's argument, they need to bring their sorry butts outside and present it. Otherwise, Kerry's version is the working version, and with polls tilting more and more blue for 06, Emporer Bush is buck naked and the wind from the latest approval polls is blowing real cold.

Good for Kerry.

[sandnsea]

7. He's led on the war since before the war

He pushed Bush to the UN and Congress in 2002. He warned about rebuilding the country "That effort is going to be long term, costly, and not without difficulty, given Iraq's ethnic and religious divisions and history of domestic turbulence." He's the one that said not to rush to war in Jan 2003, and laid out the correct path to take. He pressed for a better reconstruction effort in July 2003, "Peacekeeping is linked to the humanitarian and to the governance transformation and the global investment in that is the fastest, most effective way to be able to strengthen our goals and provide safety to our troops.” He warned about civil war in his speech in Missouri in 2004. He called for benchmarks and a plan to turn over the country, sector by sector, last October.

At every step of the way he warned that if Bush did not proceed correctly, Iraq would not have a successful and peaceful outcome. This has nothing to do with any liberal cred. It's the same as when he's fighting for armor or benefits or PTSD care. He has offered yet another plan for Iraq to come together, one last chance, and no matter what happens, for our troops to come home.

[Island Blue]

8. Sen. Kerry has spoken consistantly on this issue.

The only difference now is that he's added a specific date. (Back in October he said the next six months would be the test for Iraq - they've obviously failed and now it's time for us to leave.)

And really, does it matter who made this statement or why? A Democratic leader is saying aloud what all of us have been saying for months (make that years). That's good enough for me!

[zulchzulu]

9. Kerry has had liberal cred for years now...

It's not that he's new on the block...

[politicasista]

10. Shouldn't you be calling Dems to get on board with this? n/t

[BlooInBloo]

15. I had the impression that most here were ALREADY on board....

... and that Kerry, etc. were the slow ones to get on board...


Maybe I'm the only one recalling all the praise of Murtha, and criticism over Kerry, etc. not being behind him...

(shrug) Fine.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

11. I'm all for it

For the more than 2300 shattered American families (not to mention the Iraqi families), I just wish he'd had the personal strength to do this back in 2004. What was that line about being the last person to die for a mistake?

Better sooner, than later, though, for sure.

[wisteria]

12. Senator Kerry has consistently been outspoken on Iraq not

because it has to do with an election, but simply because it concerns our security and the security of the Middle East.
The senator often does things because they are the right things to do and because he does have integrity.

I support his position and I hope that something good comes from this Op-Ed.

[LittleClarkie]

13. No.

He has liberal cred.

Why label it thus, when no one seem to think such things of Feingold, who is also likely running for prez.

Why not just call it a good thing to do?

When the man says it's time to bring the troops home, he means it. He's not playing 2008 games.

[wisteria]

14. Amen! n/t