Congress returns, ready for confrontation

[radfringe]

Congress returns, ready for confrontation
Democrats target war, domestic issues
By Marcella Bombardieri, Globe Staff | September 4, 2007
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/09/04/congress_returns_ready_for_confrontation/

WASHINGTON - After failing to push through their most important priorities in the last congressional session, Democratic leaders return to the capital today feeling increasing pressure to confront President Bush on the war in Iraq, terrorism, and domestic policy.

--snip--

Many Democrats are preparing to take combative stances on the war and domestic issues, according to members of Congress and aides to senior party leaders. Among the most significant battles on the horizon, aides to House and Senate leaders say, will be responding to General David Petraeus's highly anticipated report on the troop surge in Iraq due next week, vetting Bush's nominee to replace Alberto Gonzales, and pushing to expand health insurance for low-income children.

--snip--

While the Iraq debate is likely to overshadow all else, the party plans to introduce legislation restoring the habeas corpus rights of terrorism suspects and to hold new hearings questioning the president's domestic wiretapping program.

Party leaders also plan to pursue a number of major domestic policy priorities, any of which could lead to a showdown with Bush, including providing children's health insurance, increasing student financial aid - two issues Kennedy has long pushed for - and boosting energy efficiency, a priority for Markey.

And Senate confirmation hearings on a new attorney general will give Democrats a stage to make a case that the administration has abused its power by wrongly firing US attorneys and hiding information from Congress.

====================

Big Questions: Do they have a table? Is Powder dry enough to use?

[liberal N proud]

1. How long before they roll over?

The talk is big but will the votes follow the talk?

[cali]

2. Some of them have never rolled over n/t

[MadHound]

3. *YAWN*

Let me know when they're actually doing something besides blowing hot air and funding an illegal, immoral war.

[Eagle_Eye]

4. I think we are in a good position

The Democrats are doing fine with what they have to work with

The objectives should be:

Prevent the republicans from getting any kind of legislative victory
Keep the important issues (the war, the environment, and taxes) at the forefront
Keep the American people focused on how out of touch the republicans are

We are are set up to take the Senate, the House, and the Executive branch in 2008. Be patient, the Democrat leadership has it under control.

[cali]

5. What??!!

The dems should end the war immediately!!!. Impeach and convict bush and cheney!!! End Global warming!!!!

[MadHound]

6. Are you serious?

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Go tell it to those thousands of people who are either dead or injured in the past six months in an illegal, immoral war that the Dems could end at any time. Go tell it to the American people who watch and whimper from the sidelines as the Dems continue to fail to stand up to Bushco.

The Dems are playing politics with peoples' lives, and frankly I find that as obscene as Bush starting this mess. If that is what you call progress, then your morality has gone completely out the window and frankly you're one sick puppy.

[cali]

7. No. Wrong. The dems couldn't end the war at any time.

The caucus is not united. I'm all for trying to defund the war, but it won't happen overnight. Democrats don't actually have those nifty little magic wands that you seem to think are in their possession.

As for playing politics, I hate to break this to you, but politics is the context, the structure within which they operate.

Do I think the dem leadership is doing all they should? No, but you're summation of the situation, is just ignorant. As for your ad hominem attacks on a poster you disagree with; they're ugly.

[MadHound]

8. Actually you're mistaken, just go and check out the powers that the majority party has

Specifically check out their ability to hold up any and all supplemental war funding bills in committee. They can take this step, starve the war, and bring the troops home. I will grant you, this won't happen immediately, but it would certainly end the war a hell of a lot quicker than the current Dem strategy, which is apparently to offer up meaningless gestures and continue to fund the war.

Playing politics is one thing, but by their ongoing refusal to defund the war, the Dems are indeed playing politics with peoples' lives. Sometimes the truth is quite ugly, and this is one of those times. Part of being a party member means criticizing the party when it is going off course, not blindly following along with the herd as many around here seem to want to do. Following the herd is what got us into this mess, more of the same won't get us out of it.

[Eagle_Eye]

9. You are correct Sir!

I am serious.

Last time I checked, there was a war on in Iraq. People are dieing, not just Americans, but also innocent Iraqis. Unless someone with the power of God intercedes, the war will go on.

What the Democrats have to do is end the war permanently. Before that happens, more people will die. We did not ask for this war, the republicans did. Each death until the end of the war is burned into the souls of the republicans.

Our best chance to end the war once and for all is by winning the White House in 2008. It WILL cost more lives, it will cost more money, and it will cost political careers. This is a debt the republicans have run up that the Democrats will have to pay.

It is fine that MadHound wants to stand up and make it right. Just for your information, it took years to get into this mess, and it will take years to get out. A street corner protest is not going to be sufficient. It will take a dedicated political campaign to change the power structure in Washington to effect the necessary changes to end the war.

MadHound can hit the keyboard and tell us what is wrong with politics. I prefer to hit the ballot box and vote Democratic to end the war. Supporting a progressive candidate will be much more effective than just yelling out the window.