Democrats Lost in the Fog of War

NewsMax ^ | March 29, 2003 | NewsMax Intern John Rossiello

[Hugenot]

The courage and fortitude of our nation’s leaders, particularly President Bush, has been on display since the outbreak of the Iraq war. But for Democrats, polls that show continued high support for Bush's war effort - 72 percent in the latest survey - could spell trouble in next year's election.

They face a genuine political conundrum.

While opposition to war by left-wing activists threatens to turn the Democratic Party into a haven for unelectable peaceniks, Democratic candidates who support the war are finding it difficult to secure backing within the party.

On the other hand, Democrats who actually stand a chance of beating President Bush in 2004 know they can't get elected on a "peace at any price" platform, no matter how much the party's pacifist wing might want to adopt that policy.

Senators Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., and John Edwards, D-NC, who had taken moderately pro-war positions in the early days of the campaign, are already paying a price within the party.

The Norwich Bulletin reports that Lieberman will remain steadfast in his view that war with Iraq is both “just and necessary” and that he and President Bush stood “shoulder to shoulder” on the issue.

But a nationwide survey of 420 registered Democrats last week marked the first time that Lieberman didn't finish first among announced candidates since entering the presidential race in January.

Survey results like that indicate that party faithful are unafraid to forge ahead without him as a leader.

Senator Edwards, on the other hand, has taken the more conventional Democratic stance concerning the war. He echoes Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, who says he supports the troops in one breath, then attacks their commander-in-chief in the next.

Is this strategy going to work?

Not according to the 400 anti-war demonstrators who stormed Senator Edwards' headquarters recently to register their dissatisfaction with his “support” for the war.

The largely unreported March 23 protest featured demands for a meeting with the North Carolina Democrat, while demonstrators brandished signs the said, “Edwards supports the killing of Iraqi children” and “Bring them home now.”

So far, at least, neither Lieberman nor Edwards has found a politically viable way to respond to the war, a predicament that can only help the Bush reelection effort come 2004.

John Rossiello is a student at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School in Staten Island, New York.

[EternalVigilance]

Our enemies may never recover from this war, or ever be forgiven for the atrocities they have committed in connection with it.

That applies to the Iraqis, too...

[TomB]

John Rossiello is a student at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School in Staten Island, New York.

Great article.

It's a shame NewsMax has to recruit in high schools for people to write intelligent articles for them.

[Vigilanteman]

Yeah. Poor Edwards. He has to tack far left enough to secure the nomination, but if he goes too far left and doesn't get it, North Carolina won't re-elect him to the senate.

[Kath]

I would not be suprised to see Edwards eventually drop out of the field for president. He is young he has plenty of time to run again......unfortunely.

[Chi-townChief]

Mr. Rosiello missed one important point, though: the democrats have basically taken a duck on the entire Iraq issue - I can't recall the last time I saw one of them on Fox News Sunday, This Week, Meet the Liberal Press, or any one of the major news shows.

[The_Media_never_lie]

They seemed lost in the fog before the war, too.

[sweetliberty]

I love it when the Rats create irreconcilable rifts in their ranks. As far as being in a fog is concerned, they have been there for quite awhile. Their solution seems to be "full speed ahead", never mind the lack of visibility. It must really irk them that our guys are manning the only light house. Hehehe....

[sweetliberty]

"I can't recall the last time I saw one of them on Fox News Sunday, This Week, Meet the Liberal Press, or any one of the major news shows."

They are in mourning...and little Tommy is deeply concerned.

[ez]

I would not be suprised to see Edwards eventually drop out of the field for president. He is young he has plenty of time to run again......unfortunely.

Edwards' problem is that he is already running behind for reelection in NC. He would need a very good campaign just to hold his seat, so his run for President is more of a "now or never" proposition.

I think he is out of government after 2004.

[VRWC_minion]

It will be over by then.

[StriperSniper]

“Edwards supports the killing of Iraqi children”

When did he become a Republican?;-)
/sarcasm

Hugenot, are you John Rossiello?

[Vigilanteman]

From your lips to God's ears. Of all the Democrats, Edwards is the one that turns my stomach the most. His Clintonesque looks and charm spells grave danger for the republic. I'm still registered as a Democrat, but my first choice would be Al Sharpton, my second Howard Dean. What they beleive is repulsive, but at least they don't try to hide or whitewash it.

[Kath]

You may be right. If Edwards can't even win his own state how does he expect to convince Americans the people who elected him Senator don't want him but they should????

[struwwelpeter]

If this Bush leaves Saddam or worse in charge of Iraq, it will be 1992 all over again.

[fire_eye]

They are in mourning...and little Tommy is deeply concerned.

Awwww.... Is he saddened, troubled, and disheartened, too?

I think I have the solution to the Demoncrats' problem. We need to get Ralph Nada to come out and take a firm, uncompromising satance against the war, and beckon all on the Left to follow him to victory in 2004 and 2008 and 2012 and...

That should get all those horrible awful left-wing extremists out of the Demoncratic party so Edwards and Kennedy and Lie-berman can "Position" themselves. Yeah, that's it...

[Atchafalaya]

...and Tom Daschle is saddended in the fog!

[sweetliberty]

" Is he saddened, troubled, and disheartened, too?"

And disturbed....deeply disturbed.

[Libloather]

Not according to the 400 anti-war demonstrators who stormed Senator Edwards' headquarters recently to register their dissatisfaction with his “support” for the war.

This should've made headlines. Maybe it happened out in Iowa...

[Vaduz]

it isn't the fog the democrats head is lost in