The Dems Have Already Lost The Iraq Debate

The Democrats likely don't really want to win the current debate on Iraq. Why do that and leave yourself without an issue in 2008? Sadly, their only hope now is for things to deteriorate in Iraq during the year, or they may still end up in that position with the added burden of having been consistently on the losing side. What's left is mostly the ugly political back and forth. But make no mistake, you can now put a W in the win column for Bush.

A September 9 Politico report on the frustration of anti-war activists included the transcript of a call including Democrat politicians, as well as several anti-war activists. As Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) indicated, the anti-war movement can't even get the bulk of Democrats on board with surrender and the ultimate outcome of the coming debate is mostly assured. Actually, the more you read of the transcript, the more you realize their current effort is already lost - see below.

Add to that Katie Couric's non-Cronkite moments from Iraq that resulted in a ratings meltdown, the smallish crowds at various anti-war events and you soon realize that, while Americans may be tired of the war, there is simply no galvanized and motivated anti-war surge to rebut what was a mostly solid stream of information out of Iraq from August into September. And of course, Moveon.org going over the top didn't help the Democrats.

Now with Bush conceding Petraeus' proposed troops troop reductions by next summer, any air remaining in the Left's anti-war balloon is gone. The best they can hope for, and it is something, is to raise as much money as possible for 2008 on the backs of the troops they've consistently failed to support during a time of war.

Lastly, if the White House had run the Iraq War half as well as they have this recent pro-Surge campaign, all this we're seeing play out now might not have even been necessary. Nevertheless, it was. And those who support the war in Iraq and our troops can finally take some solace in a Bush victory. Late in coming, perhaps. But still sweet, for sure.

Woolsey: Our energy is going to pushing against our own people.

Medea Benjamin: Congresswoman Woolsey, do you know how Nancy Pelosi will play this whole thing out?

Woolsey: No, of course I don’t know, but I think it’s going to be…One, we can’t wait for the Senate, and I think it’s going to be possibly, and this is the most recent, we’ll revote on the Skelton initiative that was already voted on once. We’ll link it to Abercrombie that tells the president to put together a plan, and then revote on Tauscher, that says you can’t send troops in that haven’t had rest. But none of that is new.

Benjamin: And what will happen when that’s vetoed?

Woolsey: Oh, well, the Senate won’t pass it, so it won’t get to the president. So my argument is, if the Democrats are going to do something that the Senate won’t do anyway, then we might as well do something that’s meaningful, and show the country that there are Democrats who are willing to lead. So I mean, I know it’s all frustrating and I wish I could tell you that “this is the way it’s going to be,” and this is how wonderful it’s going to be, but it isn’t going to be.

Woolsey: Ok, here’s something. I believe that Nancy (Pelosi) is with us, and she’s counting on you guys and Barbara and Maxine and me to push from the Left in the Congress. But the people that need to hear are the moderate Democrats who are holding up the whole thing. They’re the ones who have to know that their people care, that they bring our troops home. They swear they don’t. They swear that they’ll lose their elections if they do the right thing.

Comments

[evette]

Can we start "doubting their patriotism" yet? What is the "'go' sign?"

[southdakotaboy]

This just goes to show you how fragil Dem support is. They will fall apart at the first strong opposition. Americans didn't vote because they support Dems they voted to punish the Republicans and the Dems were the only other choice on the ballot.

[LOL]

rofl okay, keep believing in this fantasy

[Cindi]

We don't have to believe in a fantasy, the Dems in office are proving it. Another defete!

[Fred Beloit]

What a shame. The Democratics are unable to get together even with themselves. They are much worse than the new government in Iraq at trying to accomplish something. We ought to send them to Iraq to be trained in how to legislate and govern.