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Dems question latest anti-war strategy
San Luis Obispo Tribune ^ | Nov. 09, 2007 | ANNE FLAHERTY

Posted on 11/09/2007 12:43:30 PM PST by neverdem

Associated Press

Rank-and-file Democrats expressed dismay on Friday over their party's latest anti-war strategy, with some members reluctant to vote to bring troops home around Veterans Day. The House was on track to consider legislation next week that would give President Bush $50 billion for operations Iraq and Afghanistan but insist that he begin withdrawing troops.

The measure identifies a goal of ending combat by December 2008, leaving only enough soldiers and Marines behind to fight terrorists, train Iraqi security forces and protect U.S. assets.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed off plans for a Friday vote after caucus members told her late Thursday they weren't sure they would support it. Liberal Democrats said the proposal was too soft, while conservative members told Pelosi they thought it went too far.

But Pelosi told reporters on Friday that she was confident the Iraq measure would pass.

"I think the message in the next week ought to be that a heck of a lot of people have been harmed (in combat) and we ought to take care of them," said Rep. Gene Taylor, a conservative Mississippi Democrat who says his constituents mostly support the war.

Rep. John Murtha, chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, said the vote was delayed because leadership was not satisfied it would pass. The proposal - which also includes a provision that would effectively ban waterboarding and other aggressive interrogation techniques and restrict troop deployments - might be tweaked to address member concerns, he added.

But one guarantee, Murtha said, is that Bush will have to accept some timetable on troop withdrawals if he wants the money.

"I don't think you'll see the House pass anything without restrictions," said Murtha, D-Pa.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said Thursday that Bush would again veto any legislation that sets an "artificial timeline" for troop withdrawals.

"We should be supporting our troops as they are succeeding, not finding ways to undercut their mission," he said.

Pelosi, D-Calif., told members in a private caucus meeting on Thursday that if Bush rejected the measure, she did not intend on sending him another war spending bill for the rest of the year.

"It's a war without end," Pelosi later told reporters. "There is no light at the end of the tunnel. We must reverse it."

The bill is similar to one Bush rejected in May. Unable to muster the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto, Democrats stripped the timetable from the bill and approved a $95 billion emergency spending bill, mostly for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The measure established political goals for the Iraqi government and put conditions on reconstruction aid, but Bush ultimately retained authority over the money, which ran out this fall.

Several anti-war liberals said Thursday they were willing to swing behind the measure, as long as it came with strings attached.

"The American people want out," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. "And we have to make sure we take giant steps in that direction."

If approved by the House, the Senate also might take up the measure next week.

Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he did not want to approve a spending measure for Iraq unless it forced a change in Bush's policies. When asked whether that was possible, considering the thin majority Democrats hold in the Senate, Reid said it "is up to the White House and up to the Republicans."

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Democrats face "unfortunate timing" because of the military progress being made in Iraq.

"While our troops are quelling violence and defeating terrorists in Baghdad and throughout Iraq, Democrats in Washington are trying to choke off funds for our troops in the field," he said.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 110th; army; cutandrun; defeatocrats; democratparty; democrats; dhimmicrats; election2006legacy; fifthcolumn; iraq; jihad; jihadists; madamespeaker; marinecorps; marines; murtha; nancypelosi; peacecreeps; proterrorist; sanfrannan; surrendermonkeys; usefulidiots; waterboarding; wot
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To: jazusamo; smoothsailing; RedRover
al-Murthawi ALERT --

But one guarantee, Murtha said, is that Bush will have to accept some timetable on troop withdrawals if he wants the money.

"I don't think you'll see the House pass anything without restrictions," said Murtha, D-Pa.

Someone please show me where in the Constitution CONgre$$ has the authority to be become Commander-in-Chief!

21 posted on 11/09/2007 3:48:13 PM PST by Just A Nobody (PISSANT for President '08 - NEVER AGAIN...Support our Troops! Beware the ENEMEDIA)
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To: Owen

Now their best strategy would be to fund the war to the hilt and encourage another surge to finish the job for 10 years, then they could change the subject to the economy. Berdanke could engineer a recession right here and help the Democrats save face. I doubt they are that intelligent. Idiot traitors could be patriotic and save their own butts.


22 posted on 11/09/2007 3:48:36 PM PST by kinghorse
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To: been_lurking

If ever a story deserved a ‘Tard Ping...this is it.


23 posted on 11/09/2007 4:33:09 PM PST by RedQuill
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To: george76

LOL! Thanks for the toon!


24 posted on 11/09/2007 5:50:59 PM PST by neverdem (Call talk radio. We need a Constitutional Amendment for Congressional term limits. Let's Roll!)
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To: neverdem
The Dems keep waiting and waiting for the bad news from Iraq to come....

Poor babies. They must be beside themselves with grief and fear right now.

25 posted on 11/09/2007 7:01:35 PM PST by Earthdweller (All reality is based on faith in something.)
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To: Just A Nobody; neverdem
Someone please show me where in the Constitution CONgre$$ has the authority to be become Commander-in-Chief!

Senile old man al-Murthawi would like everyone to believe he is relevant, he isn't, not even with the House Dems. That was shown when Hoyer was elected Majority Leader and Murtha was left with the sad, wet dog look on his face. LOL!

26 posted on 11/09/2007 7:24:01 PM PST by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: jazusamo; Just A Nobody
Senile old man al-Murthawi would like everyone to believe he is relevant, he isn't, not even with the House Dems. That was shown when Hoyer was elected Majority Leader and Murtha was left with the sad, wet dog look on his face. LOL!

But, Jaz, John and Nancy were such a lovely couple....

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

;-)

27 posted on 11/09/2007 7:53:21 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing; Just A Nobody

LOL!! You’re right, Smooth. They do make a lovely couple and they deserve each other. That pic is a keeper, Stretch Pelosi and Sad Dog Murtha. :)


28 posted on 11/09/2007 8:08:04 PM PST by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: Just A Nobody; jazusamo
Now here's a hoot!

And her Ankles and Butt are Gorgeous, Too

29 posted on 11/09/2007 8:09:10 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing

Hah! Clarice Feldman is right on and she’s also a winner, her pieces are always good.


30 posted on 11/09/2007 8:31:57 PM PST by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: jazusamo; smoothsailing
Murtha was left with the sad, wet dog look on his face.

Like this? ROTFLOL!

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

31 posted on 11/09/2007 9:37:29 PM PST by Just A Nobody (PISSANT for President '08 - NEVER AGAIN...Support our Troops! Beware the ENEMEDIA)
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To: smoothsailing

Sweet couple...LOL!


32 posted on 11/09/2007 9:38:59 PM PST by Just A Nobody (PISSANT for President '08 - NEVER AGAIN...Support our Troops! Beware the ENEMEDIA)
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To: Owen
They truly face a situation where they must make a choice of funding victory that humiliates them during the campaign, or they cut off funds altogether and risk any backlash about not supporting troops in battle. They may indeed choose the latter.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You nailed it Owen. This is a very dangerous time for our troops. And sad to say, the Dems just might put a full court pork promise press on enough RINOs to win the vote in the senate.

This is when we miss Karl Rove, and Donald Rumsfeld.

The dems convinced enough RINOs to give up the ghost on things like Amnesty, and McCain-Feingold, and the Filibustering rule change ( nuclear option). The Dems are insanely desperate.

The next few weeks will tell which way it will go.

33 posted on 11/10/2007 12:37:20 AM PST by Candor7 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Baghdad_(1258))
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To: Just A Nobody

LOL!! You’re good, Justa. That’s the pic I was thinking of.


34 posted on 11/10/2007 6:51:12 AM PST by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: Owen
Actually the Democrats would be far better off to just shut up.

The American sheep,,,I mean voters actually are telling pollsters that they think Democrat are better qualified to deal with the economy and health care then the Republicans. Democrat in the House keep fighting on the issue where the Republicans kick their butts in polling, National Security.

If Democrats would simply shut up about Iraq, the focus of the political campaigns next year would be on the Economy and domestic issues where the sheep think the Democrats are best.

This the danger of having national party policy set by Congressional leadership. They are so blinded by the bubble world consensus of their Congressional Districts they confuse what they are hearing in their little world for “the will of the people”

Actually what might be the “will of the people” in San Francisco isn’t necessarily going to be the will of the people in Anniston Alabama or Norfolk Virgina or Anchorage Alaska. And Control of Congress is dictated by control of a majority of Congressional Districts, not just the few big city dark blue districts.

35 posted on 11/10/2007 10:51:38 AM PST by MNJohnnie ("Hillary is polarizing, deceitful, and liberal. And those are are her good points!" Beaversmom)
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To: Candor7
You nailed it Owen. This is a very dangerous time for our troops. And sad to say, the Dems just might put a full court pork promise press on enough RINOs to win the vote in the senate.

At which point the President vetos it like he did in May and Democrats have no where near enough votes in either house to override and they go right back to square one. When the actually brought up Feingold's defund Iraq bill they didn't even get enough votes to pass either house. So the Democrats are being insansely stupid to keep beating this way dead horse. They have lost on Iraq. 1st rule of debate. When you have lost the point, change the topic, do not ride the failed arguement down in flames. Thankfully the Democrat Leadership is too stupid to learn from their errors.

36 posted on 11/10/2007 10:54:42 AM PST by MNJohnnie ("Hillary is polarizing, deceitful, and liberal. And those are are her good points!" Beaversmom)
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To: MNJohnnie

No, man. It doesn’t work that way. You don’t pass a bill to defund troops. You simply do not put forward a bill to fund them. The only thing preventing that approach from them is concern that the public will hear the GOP say that troops are in harm’s way and having their supply lines cut off. Only their concern about that prevents them simply not passing a funding bill.

The problem that can evolve is they decide they are harmed less from that than they will be from outright victory that is clear next year, with troops coming home to victory parades.


37 posted on 11/10/2007 12:44:15 PM PST by Owen
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To: Owen

“The Democrats are terrified of that scenario, .....”

The scenario that these nitwit cowards should be terrified of, is the Civil War they could force us into within our own country.

There really are folks out here that are damn tired of these traitors doing their best to ruin our country.


38 posted on 11/10/2007 1:20:42 PM PST by Gator113
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To: KarlInOhio
And how many do you really need to fight terrorism in Iraq? 1000? 1500? All of them there now and then some?

Only General Nancy knows.

39 posted on 11/10/2007 1:40:05 PM PST by okie01
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To: neverdem

When this goes to a vote, this will be the THIRTY-SECOND time the Dems have voted to defeat victory in the WOT. And it will also be the THIRTY-SECOND time they’ve been defeated, LOL!

The Loonie Left needs to put THAT in their bong and smoke it.


40 posted on 11/10/2007 2:04:47 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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