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Originally Posted by powerclown
Mind-boggling. In what alternate universe can the theory that Congress was duped into authorizing the President of the United States to go to war be feasible? What could have made powerful, intelligent, connected Democratic leaders like Harry Reid and John F. Kerry side with hawkish Republicans like Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld? Can one honestly believe that these people, these Democratic leaders, don't make decisions of life and death, war and peace without reading between the lines? Could it be that certain Democrats, such as those who voted in favor of war, sold their souls in hopes of becoming President by siding with the Republicans to appear "unified" in the eyes of the American People, post 9/11?
And now that Bush won the election, and things are difficult in Iraq, and the body count is rising, and the economy is suspect and gas prices are high and people are getting restless and demonstrating in front of Bush's ranch, could it be that these same war-mongering Democrats are living to regret their outpouring of "opportunistic goodwill", and are playing the role of the Scorned to the hilt? An indictment here! An indictment there! We have nothing to show for siding with the Republicans pre-election!! Lash out, strike down, revenge!!!
I say BULLSHIT the Congress didn't know what the score was in Iraq when they authorized Bush to go to war. I could list scores of quotes from Democrats - PRIOR to the 04 election! - saying how Hussein was a threat to National Security, a threat to the entire region, a (past/present/future) safe haven for muslim radicals, a terrorist black market, that he needed to be stopped before doing something drastic, blah blah blah. Now after losing the election, its all sour grapes and politicizing the Politicization of the war. If one thinks its entirely the Republicans' fault for the hardships of the country these days - without any Democratic complicity, duplicity and bald-faced pandering - they are misjudging the situation imho.
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You have to remember Bush and company had even Colin Powell believing we needed to go to war. That's what's at issue how much did Bushco use the CIA and forged documents and misinformation to promote the war?
It wasn't so much the Dems swallowing the Bush Kool Aid as it was all the intelligence information that said Hussein had WMD's and the public in general buying into it and wanting the war and Bush was very popular at the time.
When the truth started coming out the Dems did start to back off, but again polls rule what politicians do and the polls were in favor of the war until recently. There were many that didn't want to go to war but were laughed at, had their patriotism questioned and were bullied. Those that were vocal against the war weren't covered as much by the press and were treated as lepers even by their hometown presses.
Bush's tactics were horrendous and destructive. So, imho, the Dems. didn't have much choice they were boxed into a corner.
The problem now is they are fighting back and have the ammo but the GOP still have both houses and Bush and until the Libby trial starts and the truth of how much manipulation BushCo did of the facts, the Dems. still have to be careful.
If they push too hard it could backfire, making them look foolish as they chase smoke and mirrors making claims they can't back up and if they don't push enough they get blamed for just following the GOP into a needless war.
The Dems. aren't the ones in power right now and there are news agencies and talking heads that get good ratings (those ratings and their power are decreasing though) that are also very influential.
I think the Dems have been sitting back waiting for enough evidence and enough firepower to fight back. They have it now. It'll be interesting to see how Bush and the GOP try to spin all the problems that come out.
I honestly can see the GOP splitting as a party because of Bush and if the Dems play their cards well this can eventually be the breaking point. But again, they play them wrong it could strengthen the GOP's bonds and resolution and have it as a "them vs. us" effect.
I don't really see much coming from any of this until May or June of next year in time for the debates and mid term elections, when it will be fresh in people's minds and be able to affect the election.