Dems are frustrated about war vote.
If you’re frustrated, just imagine what the people who voted for you are feeling like.
Most factually incorrect quote of the day comes from Rep. Obey:
Democrats “have tried every way known to man to bring this war to a conclusion.”
Except, of course, refusing to fund the war. Oh, I guess that is a big one. It is the only thing you have absolute control over dummies so you obviously haven’t tried it. You could simply let the Pentagon run out of money. The war is unpopular enough where it is kind of a no-brainer. In an unpopular war, the opposition congress has the war president’s policy in their hands to crush at their delight.
What am I missing here folks? I’d love to know. This is what separation of powers is all about. Yet, the only reasons I can figure out why Democrats backed off this game of chicken is political cowardice. They believed that Republicans could somehow spin them forcing the issue (i.e. what they essentially ran on and won in 06) as a negative so they backed off when it came to make a brave, meaningful decision. Of course, the Democrats are going to try to spin this to their base as a reason to get more of a majority and the Presidency secured.
Doesn’t that seem like a consolation prize at this point for Democrats? Honest question. Wouldn’t a partial government shut down with a weak-in-the-polls Bush administration excite the base and fire them up more than giving into Bush and admitting they can’t get hardly anything done in Congress without a filibuster proof majority (something that is very difficult to attain) or a President playing for your team?
These are honest questions. I almost feel bad talking to people on the left who are as cynical as me because they went from very high hopes to utter and complete disappointment in less than a year. And let’s not even talk about it if Hillary Clinton is nominated. I am sure the emo will be plastered across the internets from people on that side of the party.
I said I wanted a strong opposition party to any President (Democratic or Republican) and I am glad to see that there was enough congestion in Congress to pass very few really stupid bills this year. If that’s the only benefit, I consider it a success. However, I am not a Democrat and I am happy just to maintain the status quo. And however much I disagree with many Democratic views, I believe they should fight for what they think is right. That’s what got them elected, that’s why they are there. And when you’re an opposition Congress, you have to bring it and be prepared for messes knowing that re-election rate is high in the House and that you have little to lose in the Senate (about half as many Democratic Senators are up for re-election as Republicans).
And I’ve been in the position where I’ve been pissed about it. And while many of the people who are pissed about this on the Democratic side aren’t going to be voting Republican anytime soon, they might decide not to show up for that critical day in November.
I just can’t understand how or why Democrats in congress are playing themselves so weak on this. Can anybody else seriously explain it to me?
