Four Ways Democrats Can End the War in Iraq

[napi21]

Here are four strategies that would work if Democrats would fight for them:

1. The only certain way to end the war is to cut off funds, but Speaker Pelosi has insanely taken that "off the table." On March 19, San Francisco activists will rally in front of Pelosi's office urging her to stop funding the war:
http://www.stopfundingthewar.com/home/

2. The next best way is to impeach Bush and Cheney and replace them with an anti-war Democrat or Republican acceptable to Congress (like Gerald Ford), but Pelosi has insanely taken that "off the table" too. Join over 70,000 activists who have emailed their Representatives to Impeach Bush and Cheney:
http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/88?ad=d6

3. Just 40 Senators could filibuster all war funding bills, starting with the $93 billion Supplemental in early March. Russ Feingold could start this filibuster with the support of the handful of Democratic Senators who truly want to end the war: John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, Barack Obama, and Ben Cardin. All we need are 40 of the 50 Democrats for the filibuster to succeed. Email them (and personalize the letter if you can):

[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

4. House Democrats could raise taxes on the rich to pay for the war, starting with an amendment to the $93 billion Supplemental in early March. Since Republicans will never vote to tax the rich, adding this as an amendment to the Supplemental would guarantee Republicans defeat the bill - or Bush vetoes it. Call your Representative at 202-224-3121 (the Capitol switchboard - ask for your Congressperson) and urge him or her to add a War Tax to the Supplemental.

Discuss this strategy here:
http://www.democrats.com/four-ways-to-end-the-iraq-war


www.democrats.com


IMO, theeasiest choiceis either 3 or 4, or both! I don't think we have the votes to execute #1 or 2,butthe other options are certainly doable.

[KharmaTrain]

1. A Modern Day Gerald Ford?

I'm curious who that would be. In my book, there is no such thing as a moderate Repugnican anymore. Most who I did know and meet have either joined us as Democrats or became Independents. What would be the requirement for such a "consensus" replacement? Strictly to end the Iraq war like a Hagel and ignore his stand on a woman's right to choose, gay rights and a whole gamut of social issues? Or whose the "moderate Democrat?"...Liebermann, a Blue Dog?

As far as raising taxes...good luck on getting anyone to vote on a tax increase...it's political suicide. Repealing the booooosh tax cuts for the rich is realistic (it will sunset in 2010 anyway...and be assured the Repugnicans will call that a tax hike), but, even though I see it passing the House, it'll be fillibustered in the Senate and definitely vetoed by asshat...and there's not the votes in the Senate to over-ride.

I'm bored about the impeachment thing...get the 67 votes in the Senate set and I'm there with you. As the old saying goes, if you're going to "shoot the king, you must kill him"...a vote in the House and no conviction in the Senate is a waste of time and money that could be spent on investigations that will lead to criminal indictments and convictions...my prefered answer to all the crimes and abuses of power of the past 6 years.

Finally...boooshie has all the money he needs to fight his war for profit through the next several months thanks to the suplemental rubber stamped last year. Yes...we need to put the kabosh on running this invasion "off the book" and require this regime to either pay for the booosh's war through the normal budget process (where we get to see where the money not only is going but where it went) or force fukstick to raise taxes (which he won't do). Unforunately, this regime has nothing but contempt for the Congress and will sign executive statements or raid other parts of the budget (education, health care) to pay for his "marvelous adventure". There has to be a challenge to these "signing statements" and I'll be curious how the new Baker/Hamilton Whitewash company will say how it's perfectly "fine" for an executive to wage his own wars with little regard to the separation of powers or any accountability.

I'm throwing these out as any strategy to cut the legs of this regime...and please understand, I want this war to end NOW, this regime run out of Washington right into the Hague where they belong and to return some respect and santity to this country, but this has to be done in an atmosphere where everything we say or stand for will be spun and distorted by the right wing hate machine and echoed by the corporate media.

Unfortunately, there's no easy answer and relying on politicians who are more concerned with re-election, campaign contributors and their egos to turn on a dime is asking for a lot. The corporate media will be ruthless in portraying Democrats as the ones who "lost Iraq"...giving the GOOP off the hook for the blood on their hands. Instead I would love to see a regular series of votes forcing the Repugnicans to support their manchild...have them attempt to justify why the war should continue as opposed to us having to constantly restart a debate as one motion after another gets gridlocked in the Senate.

While we won a great victory last November, that was just the first step in reigning in this regime and its Repugnican enablers. I had hoped we could use a majority in the House to slow this runaway train down...but it's gonna take another election to stop it and finally get it off the tracks. The longer this war continues, the greater peril it is for Repugnicans...and it will only be when they see its in their interests to join us in ending this mess and holding boooshie responsible or watch their corrupt party destroy itself. While this may not be the scenario now, another 6 months of carnage (which sadly, is already paid for) may have to happen before the pain is felt across the aisle.

Thank you for your post and good luck with moving forward formulating ideas...hopefully you can get some ears in Washington to listen. I wish things were as simple as you say, but you're expecting these people to fight against a corporate media that picks on any Democrat while ignoring the hypocricies of the Repugnicans.

Cheers...

[bryant69]

2. I think you hit the nail on the head

They'd put up Guilliani or Lieberman - someone who looks more liberal than Bush, but is, in reality, committed to their plans on "winning" the war on terror.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[napi21]

3. You're right that Shrub has the $$ he needs to continue the war for

the next few months, but that's all! He's going to need a supplemental, and if he doesn't get it, it will be the same as cutting off the funds.

If you read the post correctly, you would understand that nobody is suggesting RAISING TAXES, just atttachingit to the supplemental. THAT would INSURE that the supplemental wouldn't pass!

Are both ideas behaving like the Pubs did when they were in control? Of course! But THAT'S the way this battle has to be waged,or we'll NEVER WIN!

[KharmaTrain]

4. Wedge, Wedge & Wedge Again

That was the game the GOOPers played when they were in control...set up "wife beating" votes designed to force Democrats in "purple" districts to choose between party or hand the Repugnicans a vote they would use against them in the next election. This is the game we need to play on them.

Right now I can count Snowe, Coleman, Smith, Sunnunu and Hagel as those who have "crossed the Rubicon" with Warner & Specter as wild cards...but far from being trusted or reliable votes/allies in reigning this regime in. The pressure has to be applied to every Repugnican Senator who is up for re-election next year...constantly force them to defend this invasion...and by association finally take responsibility for it. Right now, they're looking for any way to avoid that...hoping the coporate media paints the Democrats as the ones who "lost Iraq".

I follow you on the raising taxes and how you would play it...but again, we're dealing with a corporate media that can't or refuses to see that nuance and would rush to scream how its the nasty Democrats who want to raise your taxes, tax and spend...blah blah.

The most realisitic track right now is to put the pressure on boooshie's enablers...make them make the hard choice of party vs. national interest. Make them justify the continued carnage...or force them into going to the White House...ala Barry Goldwater & Hughes Scott in forcing booshie's hand.

As I said above, no more supplementals...all funding for this invasion should and must be handled through the normal budgetary process...or, if asshat thinks its so important to fund this with borrowed money and outside of any scrutiny, then come to Congress with a Declaration of War and get the proper authorization.

Cheers...