Posted on 08/21/2005 8:34:26 PM PDT by Libloather
Democrats split over position on Iraq war
Leaders want to stay the course, voters call for exit strategy
By Peter Baker and Shailagh Murray
Updated: 10:48 p.m. ET Aug. 21, 2005
WASHINGTON - Democrats say a long-standing rift in the party over the Iraq war has grown increasingly raw in recent days, as stay-the-course elected leaders who voted for the war three years ago confront rising impatience from activists and strategists who want to challenge President Bush aggressively to withdraw troops.
Amid rising casualties and falling public support for the war, Democrats of all stripes have grown more vocal this summer in criticizing Bush's handling of the war. A growing chorus of Democrats, however, have said this criticism should be harnessed to a consistent message and alternative policy — something most Democratic lawmakers have refused to offer.
The wariness, congressional aides and outside strategists said in interviews last week, reflects a belief among some in the opposition that proposals to force troop drawdowns or otherwise limit Bush's options would be perceived by many voters as defeatist. Some operatives fear such moves would exacerbate the party's traditional vulnerability on national security issues.
The internal schism has become all the more evident in recent weeks even as Americans have soured on Bush and the war in poll after poll. Senate Democrats, according to aides, convened a private meeting in late June to develop a cohesive stance on the war and debated every option — only to break up with no consensus.
Sheehan The rejuvenation of the antiwar movement in recent days after the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq set up camp near Bush's Texas ranch has exposed the rift even further.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Translation: The RATS are having a hard time appealing to voters in red states. The anti-American and anti-war messages do well in most blue states but alienate marginal voters in marginal red states which means it doesn't help to take back the presidency and may cause the RATS to lose even more senate seates.
People are getting soft. Gas prices go up and a war isn't won in 42 minutes and they get grumpy. Economy is doing well. Somebody should tell the public.
People are getting soft. Gas prices go up and a war isn't won in 42 minutes and they get grumpy. Economy is doing well. Somebody should tell the public.
In my view, there are many, many Democrats who think Bush should be impeached and run out of town on a rail. They are probably flooding Congress with letters and e-mails. This poses a problem for the Democrats, who can't afford to alienate these voters.
oh please let them fall completely off their rocker and go totally anti america right before an election we couldnt ask for a bigger favor
But where is the Democratic protest against the war in Kosovo that has been going for about a decade now?
Oh yeah, I forgot that is the acceptable war with Muslims because it has the Bill Clinton stamp of approval.
Ironically, as long as our military is successful, they are not taking much of a risk...but if they actually win, it is to their detriment (along with everyone else). In a way it is like the opposit of Clinton vs. the Congressional Republicans in 1995-96: It was to their political benefit to let Clinton mess up the economy - but they chose to try to improve things - thus Clinton got to take shots at them, and when things improved, they got to watch Clinton take credit despite his opposition.
With all the lambasting we give President Bush and the GOP on their bungling of border/immigration issues, I bet the President called up Harry Reid to say, "I feel your pain."
The Dems anti war message (clearly left over from the 60's)might play well in the short term, especially during periods of bad news and frustrations but, it's a loser long term. Iraq is on its way and no matter how it turns out now, it will certainly be a much better country than it ever was under Saddam. Heck the whole Middle East is being transformed right now and only a complete dolt (or a Democrat) can't recognize this fact.
While I'm certain the dems will pick (with some success) at Iraq's new (and likely flawed) constitution, ten years from now it will all be meaningless. Bush will have his victory and Iraq will have its Democracy (as will other Arab countries).
As for me, I'm never going to forget the speeches by Kennedy, and Boxer, and John Kerry or the protests by Mike Moore, Tim Robbins, and Jane Fonda. I also won't forget the MSM's obsession with the negative news of the day. For that matter, I won't let my dem friends off the hook for being an obstacle to Democracy in the Middle East, either.
Many people forget (or never knew) that it was mostly the southern Democrats who stood in the way of the Civil rights movement (thanks to the MSM) but, none of us should ever forget that these same Dems stood in the way of freedom in the Middle East.
BWAHAHAHAHHA....
It maybe the best time to drive a wedge in this crack...
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