Murtha didnt lose the vote for Majority leader because of his outspoken oppostion to the war or his proposal for redeployment (described as "cut and run" as opposed to the failed "stay the course" slogan). He lost because Hoyer is far better at insider politics and organizing his Dem colleagues.
Murtha will still be the most visible and vocal Dem voice on developing an alternative strategy for Iraq and it is likely to have the support of far more Americans than the current 31% support for the current failed policy.
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Originally Posted by _God_
You're serious? You think that for the last 3.5 years, the Democrats who bitched at every opportunity, would have been premature in coming up with a better plan? All that complaining took place without an inkling of how they could improve the situation?
If the Democrats are just starting to think about how to improve the current state of affairs, the only appropriate word is "pathetic."
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A number of Dems have come up with proposals in the last 3+ years - Murtha's phased redeployment w/rapid response forces remaining in the region, Biden's trifurcation of Iraq into three autonomous regions (a terrible plan IMO), Skelton's plan for bringing Jordon, Egypt, Kuwait, Iran,Syria into both diplomatic/political discussions with the new Iraqi government and a Muslim "stabilization force" to replace the US face of occupation...and other plans.
They have not coalesced around any one plan for one simple reason.....
the Repubs in both the House and Senate have consistently blocked any hearings to discuss any options to "stay the course". Now that the Dems have an opportunity to hold hearings on these and other plans, where they can call defense and Mid East policy experts, openly discuss their assessments of the pros and cons of the plans and review the options in greater depth, there will be consensus on a plan by early '07.