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slvemike4u -> RE: So when are we getting out of Iraq? (A Question to Obama Voters" (11/7/2008 2:42:33 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: celticlord2112
quote:
ORIGINAL: rulemylife
Just like the political reality that saw 61% of House Democrats oppose the Iraq War Resolution while only 3% of House Republicans did likewise. The Senate was even more interesting as 42% of 50 Democrats voted against the war while only 1 Republican out of 49 did the same.
Let me highlight the math a little more. Out of 272 Republican members of the House and Senate just 7 voted against authorizing the war.
Now talk to me some more about political leadership and strength of character.
Your math, while impressive, is irrelevant. The inherent presumption in a vote is that the person voting is sincere in how he or she votes. Are you prepared to argue that the Republicans who voted for the resolution did not believe at the time they were doing the right thing? Even if they had cause to alter their opinion after the fact, that does not render the vote inherently unprincipled merely because you disagree with the war.
On the other hand, for Democrats to complain about not being able to take a stand on their principles for fear of what Bush might do, and how they simply must have a veto-proof majority in order to advance any legislation, when they already possess a majority in both houses, is political cowardice, pure and simple.
The Democrats could easily have refused to pass any funding bill on Iraq--Bush cannot veto legislation that is not presented for his signature. They could easily have taken to the airwaves to argue before the public that starving the troops of funding was the only way to bring them home--that would be a principled position.
They did not do either; what they have done since 2006 is complain about how big bad Bush bullies them around, and how only a Democrat in the White House would put things to right. That is neither principled nor courageous; it is ethically bankrupt and completely cowardly.
And it is why the Democratic-controlled Congress is the one political entity held in lower esteem (and greater contempt) than President Bush.
So it is your contention the Democrats needed to show political courage by opening themselves up to a charge of "not supporting the troops" knowing in the end it would accomplish nothing except guarenteeing defeat at the polls.
The way I see it the Dems recognised political reality....comported themselves in a politically responsible way and now are actually in a position to do something about it as opposed to grandstanding in a futile effort to make a point ,while cutting their own throats politically speaking....thus guarenteeing defeat at the polls in the recent election
Seems to me CL all your advice to the Democratic party,exhorting "political courage" consistantly leaves the Democratic party open to scurrilous charges and ultimate defeat at the polls.The last thing the Dems need is advice from you concerning political courage,better being they were not actually in control of things bide their time,consolidate their power and take this country in a new and more advantageous direction.
Now of course in the meantime more troop's came home in bags,more treasure was squandered,but this was the reality of life with Bush and Cheney holding the levers of power....the Dems had no real choice save to wait for the inevitable political backlash to wash away the Republicans in a tide of dissatisfaction....as was just recently done.
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