The democratic majority hangs by a thread, in the senate, and in the country. The "stuff" that I've posted in my last post, and Tenet's statements in his book, coupled with Kucinich's efforts, must be drummed into the heads of many Americans, until they are sick of hearing it, but until they KNOW IT. Unitl they know that they were lied to into a war that did not have to happen, and from which there can be no "victory". What would "victory" look like? Iran smoldering in ruin, next to the disintegration of Iraqi society, into the current factional violence....the "slo mo" civil war?
IMO, this is "take off the gloves", go at them, "kicken and screamin'" with everything that you've got....all of the evidence, all of the time....
South Dakota, home of the recently critically ill senator Tim Johnson, and home of former Senate Majority Leader, Tom Daschell, is a state where the division of opinion in this country can clearly be seen. Johnson came so close to dying and putting the senate back under the control of it's president, Dick Cheney. The democratic congresswoman there has to reassure everyone that "the Iraq war is not lost", so that she can survive, politically to vote with fellow democrats for a timetable to wind the war done:
Quote:
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/arti...top/news02.txt
Herseth: 'The war is not lost'
By Kevin Woster, Journal staff
Sen. John Thune said Thursday that a military spending plan pushed through the Senate by Democrats was aimed more at making political gains than supporting U.S. troops in a time of war.
In voting against the Democratic measure, which ties supplemental funding for the military's war operations to an Oct. 1 deadline to begin troop withdrawals from Iraq, the South Dakota Republican said leaders of the majority party were playing games with the lives of soldiers and Marines.
The bill did get a vote of support Wednesday from Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. She followed most other Democrats in the House in approving the measure on a vote of 218-208, well short of the two-thirds required to override a veto.
Herseth Sandlin said Thursday that South Dakotans realize "we need to get beyond the partisan rhetoric and to recognize the war is not lost, in my opinion."
A week ago, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada declared the war is lost, sparking an angry backlash by Republicans. Vice President Cheney accused Reid of "defeatism" and political opportunism in trying to set a troop withdrawal timetable in the war spending bill.
Thune referred to Reid's remark Thursday during a spirited condemnation of the Democratic plan on the Senate floor. After trips to Iraq and meeting with wounded military personnel, Thune said he never "talked to one G.I. who said the war is lost."
Thune said in comments on the floor Thursday: "Mr. President, the Democratic leadership here in Washington is playing a game of roulette with the administration when the only losers will be the American soldiers," Thune said, speaking to the president of the Senate. "History is going to judge us based on how we respond to the crises of our generation."
The Senate approved the legislation 51-46.
Sen. Tim Johnson, who continues his recovery from a brain hemorrhage and surgery last December, was unable to vote on the measure. But Johnson said in a prepared statement Thursday that he supported the spending bill as a reasonable funding package that would prod Iraqis to take on more responsibility for their own security.
"As the father of a soldier, I believe this is a compromise that helps us focus on our troops. This bill includes recommendations from the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, which are our best chance of success," Johnson said. "This bill funds our troops and supports a shift in the mission. It says that it is time for the Iraqis to find a political solution to their conflicts."
The controversial measure, which President Bush has vowed to veto, would require the president to begin a phased redeployment of troops no later than Oct. 1 if Iraq troops meet certain benchmarks. The redeployment could begin sooner if the Iraqis fail to meet those benchmarks.
Herseth Sandlin told reporters Thursday that South Dakotans generally are realistic about Iraq. Although the war has become a partisan debate in Washington, South Dakotans generally aren't strident about it, she said.
"The comments I get from constituents don't seem to be marked with the same partisan divide," she said, adding that South Dakotans take more of a "realist and centrist approach."
Military leaders worry that delays in providing funds have left them facing financial shortfalls that could limit their ability to provide for military needs, Thune said. He said he was "shocked" by comments from Senate leaders that they were going to break the Republican Party in Congress and pick up congressional seats because of the war.
"I would say to my Democratic colleagues that we are not the enemy," Thune said. "If you want to break something, break the enemy. Break
al-Qaeda."
Herseth Sandlin acknowledged "institutional tension" because of the strong feelings in Congress about the war and the spending plan.
<h3>"I think folks on both sides of the aisle - starting with Sen. Reid and Vice President Cheney - everyone needs to watch their rhetoric that's not helpful to the very important discussion about the resources necessary for our troops and the issue of accountability as a matter of effective representation of our constituents and the Congress," she said.</h3>
She said partisan criticism is unwarranted. "Each of us is trying to manage the information we know exists ... in making the best informed judgment about the need for accountability going forward."
Congress still must make sure U.S. troops have the resources they need, Herseth Sandlin said.
Talks have been held on what to do after a Bush veto to ensure a war funding measure is passed that he can sign, she said, adding that she hopes it still will include disaster aid for farmers and ranchers.
Herseth Sandlin said South Dakota Republicans, Democrats and independents have told her they are growing impatient and frustrated with the Iraq situation. They understand the U.S. can't sustain an open-ended commitment, she said.
There's recognition "among constituents of all political stripes that there isn't a military solution to this; that we do need to ramp up our diplomatic efforts and engage even those that we have problems with in the region in ensuring that we don't have a failed state in Iraq," the congresswomen said.
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I disagree with Herseth Sandlin. It's the time to emphasize that it is not "rhetoric" to say that the war in Iraq cannot be won. It is fact. The war is a crime.....to be ended and to be investigated. Thune and Cheney need to be discouraged. Constant emphasize of the facts, the lies, the crimes of aggression are the only way to discourage the "they are not supporting the troops if they pass laws that will bring them home", rhetoric,
The opposition to Bush Cheney is still hanging on by the skin of it's teeth. Overconfidence, manifested in declarations that impeachment is not good political strategy, ignores the fact that control of the congress is tenuous, and possibly fleeting.
Hold the hearings while you control the committees, make constant TV appearances and give constant interviews to the press to emphasize the lies, deceptions and Tenet's newly released statements. Never let up.
The American people were deficient enough to be misled into war, in a majority in the high 80's percent of all adults. They must be clubbed over the head with the details of what has actually happened...until powerline blog stops printing the "Bush admin. is scandal free" BS that led my last post!