23 Comments so far

1. blessthebeasts February 8th, 2007 4:16 pm

   Right on target. The only funding the troops need are the funds to bring them home. Dennis Kucinich has a plan on his website Kucinich.us to do so. Let the healing begin.

2. opeluboy February 8th, 2007 7:21 pm

   “From the beginning, this war has been a mistake, and the policies that have carried it out have been a failure,” Feingold said on January 31.

   Wrong, supposedly outspoken Feingold. It was a CRIME, not a mistake.

   Until the Dems stop pretending the only thing wrong with this war is that it has been badly planned and carried out and admit that it is a war crime, nothing will change.

3. R Kostel February 8th, 2007 7:56 pm

   Guys, I gotta tell ya, I’m 49 this year, that this same damn thing happened with the Republicans in ‘68 promising to end Vietnam. In point of fact, when elected, they escalated the war they had earlier promised to end. I am a registered democrat, but I am not in the least surprised by this latest news regarding the dem’s skittishness to go after Bush in any way. This is politics as usual, and remember, politics is the last refuge of scoundrels. Truly. Thanks.

4. Alan MacDonald February 8th, 2007 9:50 pm

   The frantic but useless actions of Congress to stop Bush from continuing to expand war in Iraq, let alone Iran, would almost be funny if they were not so serious.

   The image that comes to my mind over the past month in which the Congress has frantically rushed around with multiple useless paper resolutions about fixing up Bush’s existing mess in the Iraq war, while not being able to get ahead of the new, bigger mess he is about to make in Iran is the image of a hapless pet owner, whose puppy has already **it on the family room rug — and while the frantic puppy owner runs around in circles with sections of newspaper wondering how to pick up the puppy’s first **it and also chase the puppy putting more newspaper sections down in rooms that it might **it in next, the naughty puppy just runs into the living room and takes a bigger and messier dump all over his best new wall to wall.

   If the puppy owner (and our Congress) had any sense they would not chase the naughty puppy around in circles trying to pick up his existing **it and put down papers of resolution to catch his next **it on the next rug —– they would simply kick the **cking naughty puppy out in the snow!!

   “This is not a game, naughty puppy George, we will kick your **cking chops in before you can launch a nuclear war in the Middle East. Out you go with that stupid mutt of yours Barney!!”

5. Robert Settgast February 8th, 2007 11:01 pm

   WAR RESOLUTION
   Even with our limited information on this war, it is all to evident that our legislators erred when they granted this unlearned and arrogant administration the authority to embark on and perpetuate this disastrous misadventure.

   The weapons inspectors were there and we had contained Saddam. The resulting “civil war” and chaos had been predicted by many informed experts, and should have been obvious–but their advice was ignored. One can only imagine the extent of disaster if Saddam had unleashed some biological, chemical, or primitive nuclear weapons on our troops during the invasion.

   After nearly four years, the only rational option left now is for congress to seize the war powers from the president–and then pursue a logical course to conclude this misadventure. This would include not only recognition of the recent advisory commissions recommendations (which the administration ignored) but also curbing profiteering, promoting measures for energy conservation and global warming mitigation to reduce our dependance on their oil–and regain some worldwide trust.

   The alternative is to permit continuation of this disastrous quagmire, while risking a war with Iran and destabilization of the entire area– and further damaging our international stature.

   ALL TOO RELEVANT QUOTE:
   How is the World Ruled, & how do wars start?–
   Diplomats tell lies to journalists, & then believe what they read.
   (Karl Kraus, Austrian Press,1874-1936)

   Robert Settgast
   San Rafael, CA
   rhsettgast@hotmail.com

6. Myles February 8th, 2007 11:30 pm

   Democrats rising to the occasion?
   What planet are you on? They are, and will remain, as spineless as ever.

7. ezeflyer February 8th, 2007 11:35 pm

   Dem pols aren’t worried about taking money away from the troops. They are worried about their re-election funds from the loss of corporate bribes if they stop a profitable war.

   “Throughout the twentieth century and into the beginning of the twenty-first, the United States repeatedly used its military power, and that of its clandestine services, to overthrow governments that refused to protect American interests. Each time, it cloaked its intervention in the rhetoric of national security and liberation. In most cases, however, it acted mainly for economic reasons-specifically to establish, promote and defend the right of Americans to do business around the world without interference.”
   Stephen Kinzer

8. oaklandboy February 9th, 2007 5:25 am

   The Democrats are too afraid of doing the right thing because it will put them at odds with the White House. So they will continue to play political games while our soldiers die in Iraq.

9. ballerina February 9th, 2007 6:09 am

   The dems are actually just as beholden to the war profiteers as are the republicans when it comes to campaign contributions…such wars in the future could easily be stopped in the planning stages if elections were financed by the taxpayers instead of the corporate elite… not only that, we could have health care, lower prescription drug prices, and all manner of other nice things for taxpayers instead of welfare/warfare for the rich if we would simply pass this one piece of election reform legislation.

10. lenZimm February 9th, 2007 6:16 am

    Cutting off funds sounds like a quick fix but it might win the battle and lose the war.

    If we cut off the funds we might see a big jump in US casualties. (Of course that doesn’t have to happen.) But if it did happen the American people would be encouraged to blame the casualties on us Democrats.

    The Republicans are inviting us to cut off funds and Reid is not walking into that trap.

    LenZimm

11. Uncle Buck February 9th, 2007 10:29 am

    Give me a break! The democraps are the same dogs as the republichristians, only wearing different colored collars. If you’re waiting for them to do something meaningful, then I suggest you pack a large lunch and stock up on reading material. People voted for them as the lesser of two evils. Best case scenario: Feingold breaks ranks and forms a new party that actually represents the constituency. A guy can only dream.

12. writer2 February 9th, 2007 10:49 am

    It doesn’t matter that this war has supposedly morphed into a civil war. The US went in to occupy Iraq, to take over and we are still there for the same reason. The civil war makes it harder but doesn’t change the purpose of our being there.

    We want hegemony over oil producing countries and Israel wants a destroyed Iraq. so Iraq has been destroyed, part of the mission is accomplished. but we still have to stay for the oil and now israel is afraid of iran so we have to stay from that perspective also.
    No way will we leave.

    The dems will do AIPAC’s bidding and will also talk about protecting our national interests.

    Ethical behavior by the US is out of the question.

    Yes, the whole thing was not a mistake but a crime. but with the biggest military on the planet, who will prosecute?

13. Shenonymous February 9th, 2007 11:02 am

    Since a huge majority of the public oppose the war, understand clearly that it was an illegal war and were lied to about what was going on, understand clearly that the billions already spent went into some very specious pockets, what on earth would the Democratic Senate have to worry about regarding re-elections? It is just Democratic senators as usual, all mouth, no action. Well, the public has spoken and will again in 2008. We will get the politicians with backbone.

14. ezeflyer February 9th, 2007 11:31 am

    “[American leaders] are perhaps not so much immoral as they are amoral. It’s not that they take pleasure in causing so much death and suffering. It’s that they just don’t care … the same that could be said about a sociopath. As long as the death and suffering advance the agenda of the empire, as long as the right people and the right corporations gain wealth and power and privilege and prestige, as long as the death and suffering aren’t happening to them or people close to them … then they just don’t care about it happening to other people, including the American soldiers whom they throw into wars and who come home – the ones who make it back alive – with Agent Orange or Gulf War Syndrome eating away at their bodies. American leaders would not be in the positions they hold if they were bothered by such things.”
    William Blum

15. corvo February 9th, 2007 3:48 pm

    Reid timid? Given his effectiveness as minority and now majority leader, one has to ask whether he’s on their side, not ours. How else could one possibly consider him effective?

16. Stonecutter February 9th, 2007 6:01 pm

    Look, the inaction of the Senate regarding the war is not about cowardice. It’s about cynical political calculation. Does anyone out here actually believe that any of the senior Senators involved in this “debate” are not among the most cynical people in our country? If you do, you’re profound naivety or inexperience is excused, but still, wake up and smell the oil.

    Notwithstanding the occasional exception, like Russ Feingold, Democrats are in lockstep behind the hardball decision to deny any vote, binding or not, that will transfer publically perceived “ownership” of the Iraq catastrophe from Bush and the neocons to Reid, Pelosi & Co. Tragically, this brutal calculation (for our troops and the Iraqi people) is based on a fractured electorate, hyper-polarized political climate, a take-no-prisoners culture within the Congress (real compromise are distant memories), and the essential reality that this war has always been about controlling access to Iraq’s oil resources, a strategic objective the “pastoral” Democrats embrace every bit as much as the worst neocon, chickenhawk warmonger. All the rest of the 25 other bogus public “justifications” for the war that have been blown around the mainstream media for the past 4 years like DDT are just that, toxic gas hazardous to our health as a responsible, thinking nation and civilized member of the world community.

    Had the war been managed effectively, without the massive screwups, both inadvertent and intentional, over which our hapless decider has presided, everyone would’ve been more or less satisfied back in 2003 that we had secured that oil access with optimal losses and effectiveness. Of course, that didn’t happen, we’ve opened up a Pandora’s Box of epic proportions, unleashed historic levels of conflict in the region, and lost 3100 of our troops and maimed and wounded countless others, but control of that oil–by American and British corporations–is still driving the collective mindset of both parties in the Congressional leadership.

    The recent “hydrocarbon law” considered in the Iraqi parliament pulls the covers on this primary objective, now and into the distant future. Expecting “courage” and “principled” action by the Senate under these cynical circumstances of realpolitik (there’s a reason our own real life Dr. Strangelove, better known as Henry the K., has been advising Bush of late) is like expecting William Kristol to announce tomorrow he’s supporting John Edwards for president (along with yours truly). In your dreams.

17. Mangog February 10th, 2007 2:13 am

    I know, why don’t we have a discussion about the atrocities the leaders of Iran and the recently deceased Hussein are guilty of? Why don’t we talk about the thousands of innocent people slaughtered by the Ruling Council of Ayatollah Khomeini after the Revolution?? Shall we discuss all the Humanitarian efforts worldwide sponsored by Hezbollah, or the ruling Council in Iran? shall we discuss the two girls sentenced to death recently in Iran for defending themselves from group rape?? How about the leader of Iran declaring his desire to completely destroy another nation?? Now, let’s find a comparison to America. Hmmmm, no, can’t seem to find it. Just talk, taken out of context?? Keep fooling yourself you pacifist idiots. And to the first idiot who talks about it being easy to condone a war I am not fighting, the argument is as empty as your head. My tax dollars have been paying for military hardware and paychecks for 30 years now so I can damn well sit back and see my money go to good use. Iran wants to see American cities in nuclear ashes. They teach their children to hate us, to desire the end of our civilisation. They want to raise a dead, fictitious arab out of a well and install Islamic Law on ALL OF US. Have any of you seen interviews with the madman President of Iran?? Would you make such idiotic comments if you did??Do any of you make your pacifist comments realising that nuclear tipped warheads are the only reason you can talk such tripe?? Is that not the Ultimate Irony?? When the hell in the History of Man has diplomatic efforts yielded the results so many ‘talk will get the job done’ advocates imagine?? The soldiers dying in Iraq DO NOT WANT YOUR PITY, can’t you understand that?? Even the wounded ones want to go back and fight, just watch TV!!!!! Peace is an illusion, it will never exist as long as religion poisons the minds of the billions of Sheeple. My god says to kill you, no my god says to kill you because you don’t believe what my god says. What utter madness. Iran IS pursuing a nuclear weapon. Your opinion to the contrary is not reflective of the actions taken by the Iranians. Screw El Baradei, HE’S AN ARAB!!!! Why beat a dead horse, History proves that belligerent nations issuing threats should be taken seriously. George Bush has never faltered, never wavered from his course. I admire him for that. I don’t remember Iranian troops helping out the MUSLIM victims of the tsunami, or donating anything worth a damn. I don’t remember Hezbollah, or Hamas leading the worldwide effort to help the MUSLIM victims of the tsunami. I do remember George Bush, his father, and Clinton helping. Demonise George Bush all you want. He won the second election fair and square. I wonder how many of the above authors drive gas guzzling SUV’s while advocating the impeachment of George Bush, that is rich!!!! All of you are jealous, impotent little people barking in the wind and no one cares. Iran is two bit thug nation steeped in violence, murder and blood. Iranian weapons are killing US troops, why no outrage at that??? Iran’s President is aiding the insurgents, let’s get real. I don’t see any of you advocating HIS removal. Try living under his brand of government, we’ll see how many crap talkers are left. America, including George Bush, does more good on this Planet than any country, in any time, for more people, in the History of Man. Of course, all this is drowned out by the armchair generals and so called intellectuals and peaceniks living free due to the military might of the US government. Move to Iran.

18. tobee4 February 10th, 2007 4:50 pm

    The behavior of this Congress is heinous in the extreme. This war needs to end now and the only money that needs to be discussed is the amount it would take to get all Americans out of Iraq and that which would help to mend the mess we have created, with accompanying accountability. How can they get up in the morning knowing they are sanctioning wounding and killing and destruction of the Country of Iraq, not to mention what they are allowing to occur at Home. We did not vote for the Democrats to sit on their hands. Is it time to change the Majority Leader in the Senate. This is past dreadful!!!!!

19. stamina February 10th, 2007 7:44 pm

    As Tom Paxton wrote:

    What did you learn in school today,
    Dear little boy of mine?

    I learned our goverment must be strong
    It’s always right and never wrong!
    Our leaders are the finest men
    And we elect them again and again
    And that’s what I learned in school today,
    Thats what I learned in school

20. iammyself February 10th, 2007 7:50 pm

    The Senate (and mangog) are bloviating idiots. Free to send others into bloddy messes they’re too chickenshit to fight themselves (or have their kids fight).

    Is there anything lower?

21. ezeflyer February 11th, 2007 2:00 pm

    Magog:

    I’m sorry you were abused as a child. IT WASN’T YOUR FAULT!

22. bnwurukupaci December 12th, 2007 9:06 am

    titcacericuzy…

    exsyrowitusa…

23. bnkehotopaty January 1st, 2008 6:04 am

    titsohowasyci…

    exconisenaro…

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