Letters to the Editor
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Look at Jim Webb
..for an example of what a democrat should be.
Most dems seem to be completely spineless. It is something to behold.
They absolutely are just as responsible as Bush and co. In fact, I probably give more respect to the republicans. At least they stuck with the program even when it wasn't going so well.
Dems vote to continue the war, and then bad-mouth the war and the prez at the same time.
Just vote republican. At least we know where they are coming from. I for one will be quite happy in a fascist state.
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Stop calling him a WAR President!
It's amazing how the propaganda on the Right permeates (or even defines) the thinking on the Left.
There was no official declaration of war with Iraq, so no one should be calling it the "Iraq War." Yet just about every liberal/progressive commentator does so, including the author of this article, more than once. What a stellar victory for Karl Rove.
Bush considers it a multilateral military action done to enforce UN sanctions, done oddly without the approval of the UN, but in truth, it was an unlawful invasion of Iraq by the USA.
Thus, Bush is an "Invasion President," not a War President.
Oh wait. The Right Wing says this is a "War on Terror?" Please point out to me where in the Constitution is the Congress or President or anyone else authorized to declare war on a potential future event? Here was another great stroke of propaganda, which no thinking person should have allowed to go unchallenged. Yet here it is, a meaningless phrase that's become the ultimate smokescreen.
No one should be using the term "War President." No one should be using the phrase "War on Terror."
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Political suicide...don't insist on it!
This article does not promote a Democratic win in 2008...in fact, it only reinforces the idea that Democrats are cowardly and weak-willed.
America's Mideast policies are flawed, yes, but attacking Democrats is not at all helpful in the debate.
Politicians cannot dare suggest that our Israel policy needs overhauling because if they do, all hell will break loose. Jewish Americans have enormous clout in both parties...not only that, they have it in the press also. It would be political suicide for any Democrat to get on the bad side of the Jewish lobby. Because of this, I am not optimistic that our Israel policy will change substantially. Should a Democrat capture the White House in '08, there might be subtle, even desirable changes in that policy but any candidate or politician must be very careful. I don't like these facts at all, but I am realistic.
Progressive websites should keep in mind the realities of the political landscape and not lambaste the Democrats for funding the troops. The American people want the troops funded, period. They will not tolerate anything less and it would be disastrous for politicians to vote to end funding. I can just picture all the television networks carrying clips of Giuliani, McCain, the Mormon, Bush, Cheney...the whole works smearing and clubbing the Dem's for not funding the troops. The GOP terrorists would have a field day!!! It would not be a pretty sight.
As for Iran, I don't believe the Democrats will facilitate a war with them. The American people are not behind this action. The recent spectacle in New York against the Iranian president was principally a Jewish endeavor. Again, any Democratic politicians coming out against all the name calling would have incurred the wrath of the Jews.
To sum it all up, I don't expect politicians to commit political suicide. What good would that do in the long run?
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why is it america's function to force a settlement on the israelis and palestinians?
let them solve it (or not) themselves. the U.S. is not solving conflicts in darfur, how could it? the israelis could have used the help in '48, by '68 "help" was just doing what america wanted. i've been reading salon for some time now and i noticed something interesting. it is basically an organ of the democratic party. when it seemed like the republicans were finished (the mid term elections) israel-hating was at a low ebb. but now that the democrats are not acting up, salon blames the jews. Fix Your Own Party and Stop Blaming Us! it's not israel's fault that america fucked up. and are continuing to fuck up. there's another thread on the nazis, well the nazis didn't start killing jews till '42 when they started losing the war. you too, once you are losing control of Your Democrats, start blaming the jews. it's that simple. and the answer is also that simple. stop it. fix your own roof. or to get gospelly, take the beam out of your own eye. left alone, the palestinians and the israelis would solve their own problems - in their own good time - all you do by roiling is make EVERY one mad.
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Democrat Bashing and Reality Checking
I don't get it Kamiya. Lots of Dem-bashing and barking but not enough reality checking. You know damn well that Republican loyalty has ground the mid-term election to a halt.
The Dems have been trying. You make it sound like capitulation and conspiracy with the Republicans. You take no prisoners, except at the end where you have a moment of caution--but by then it's too little too late.
You are going to have pick some Democrat eventually, and then you are going to have to preach party loyalty. You know you can't expect to win with any of them if there is a more "liberal" third party candidate. I agree with you wholeheartedly about Israel, but baggering the candidates into making it into an issue has little effect.
Your analysis is shallow in light of the larger issues. No Dem is going to continue Bush's endless war. It's hard to figure what they are capable of given their current stranglehold on the country, but it's not worth testing by continuing to give the Dem's new orifices.
Of course, the worst thing that could happen is if the Dems capture the White House, and America, (just to be careful especially given what they are being fed at present)puts the GOP back in the legislature. I think you're going to have to rethink your point of view if you don't want to put Mitt Romney into office.
Why not face that reality at this time instead of waiting until so called "liberal," and "independant" voters decide to sit it out again? You're really just working on a perceptual basis here, and I disagree with that basis.