Wouldn't you think that now, when the war is at it's lowest ebb of support that the Democrats would strike and do something decisive to put a stop to the surge? That's what they have been promising to do ever since Bush announced he would be sending additional troops months ago. But now they are taking about postponing legislation:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Monday he wanted to delay votes on a measure that would repeal the 2002 war authorization and narrow the mission in Iraq.And Pelosi is distancing herself from Murtha's plan which she originally supported:
Senior Democrats who drafted the proposal, including Sens. Joseph Biden of Delaware and Carl Levin of Michigan, had sought swift action on it as early as this week, when the Senate takes up a measure to enact the recommendations of the bipartisan Sept. 11 commission.
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"Iraq is going to be there _ it's just a question of when we get back to it," Reid said, predicting it would be "days, not weeks" before the Senate returned to the issue. The war reauthorization legislation also appears to lack the 60 votes it would need to pass the Senate.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., meanwhile, said she doesn't support tying war funding to strict training and readiness targets for U.S. troops.BTW, if Pelosi is stating that she won't tie funding to troop readiness, why this:
The comments distanced her from Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., who has said he wants to use Congress' spending power to force a change in policy in Iraq, by setting strict conditions on war funding.
Pelosi said she supports holding the administration to training and readiness targets, but added: "I don't see them as conditions to our funding. Let me be very clear: Congress will fund our troops."
House Democrats, who enjoy a 32-seat majority, will try this week to determine if there is enough support among themselves to pass the Murtha plan.Now, if you thought that you had a mandate from the American people, and you controlled the House, wouldn't you just cut funding. That's what the people who wanted to arrest Patty Murray believe, these are the people who elected you and you represent, why not just give them what they want, especially if you believe that's what the American people want? Maybe because they know that the American people don't really want it. That they want to win this war and the polls reflect the fact that they are unhappy that we are losing and just want to pull out because they don't think we can win.
Obviously, this quandary has now left them bereft as to what to do:
The developments on both sides of the Capitol reflected a new level of disarray in Democratic ranks on Iraq. Swept into power by voters clamoring for an end to the war, Democrats have seen their efforts falter under a reality more complicated than they found on the campaign trail.That line is so funny! Of course he does! He's the commander in chief. I think that maybe this is starting to sink in, though the left may want to pull out and stop the war, they aren't the ones who get to decide.
While the public is fed up with Iraq, there is little consensus over what to do.
Internal divisions, Republican opposition and a president who _ while weakened _ still appears to have the dominant voice on the war have all left Democrats flailing for a way to change the war's course.
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