Coakley (Likely Kennedy Successor): I oppose more US troops to Afghanistan

[tekisui]

Source: Nashua telegraph

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts Senate candidate Martha Coakley said Sunday she opposes sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan.

The Democratic front-runner in the race to succeed the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy issued a statement saying, “I believe we should begin the process of bringing our troops home.”

Coakley has said repeatedly she trusted President Barack Obama but would wait to hear him make his case if he wanted to increase the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan.

Yet two days before Obama is scheduled to address the nation on the subject, Coakley said “based on what I know now,” she does not support a troop increase.

Obama is expected to announce an increase of up to 35,000 more U.S. forces to defeat the Taliban-led insurgency and stabilize a weak Afghan government. The escalation, which would take place over the next year, would put more than 100,000 American troops in Afghanistan at an annual cost of about $75 billion.

Coakley said she is “very concerned” the case for more troops still has not been made. And she believes there is no evidence Afghan President Hamid Karzai “is a legitimate or trustworthy partner.”

more: http://nhbr.com/news/statenewengland/459388-227/coakley-i-oppose-more-us-troops-to.html

[Tesha]

1. IIRC, Capuano is saying the same thing.

Here in the Tesha household, we lean towards Capuano, but either
Coakley or Capuano will be fine. The only wrong choice is Pagliucca
(sp?), the Republican running as a Democrat and trying to buy the
race with his wealth.

Of course, we're from NH so we only have a "sympathy vote".

Tesha

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

12. Capuano is winning in my poll in the Massachusetts forum!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=158x15226

[Tesha]

19. My recollection was correct; he said it again this morning on WBUR. (NT)

[TheWraith]

2. Pity that Dems only have enough spine to bash other Dems.

If as many people had griped about the Bush administration's lack of an endgame, we wouldn't need to be cleaning up their mess now.

[tekisui]

3. It's tough being the good guys.

[MannyGoldstein]

8. Most Dems Voted Against Attacking Iraq

Most "Dems" who backed it were looking to run for President.

[MannyGoldstein]

4. I Think Capuano Has A Good Shot

Particularly if he goes after her on the disturbing Fells Acres case.

[bluestateguy]

5. Well isn't that special

The Commander in Chief meanwhile has made his decision.

[tekisui]

6. But, you see where the winds are blowing?

[Tesha]

15. It sucks when real Democrats show up, doesn't it?

And imagine if she gets elected!

(In fact, soon, you won't have to imagine it; it's quite likely.)

Tesha

[HughMoran]

7. So does Capuano

He takes a very firm stance on this deal. No troops without a plan to succeed.

[ruggerson]

9. My worry is they'll try to "Paterson" her

She's very strongly pro marriage equality.

[HughMoran]

10. repeating that which was denied by both sides?

How can you do that?

[ruggerson]

11. ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/nyregion/20paterson.html?_r=1

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/21/nyregion/21paterson.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/09/21/2009-09-21_bam_makes_a_bad_state_of_affairs_worse.html

[liberalpragmatist]

13. Yes, b/c Obama is pursuing a witchhunt against those that support marriage equality

:eyes:

And of course trying to get Paterson out of the race was because he supports gay marriage, not because his poll numbers are in the 20s. Never mind that Andrew Cuomo also favors marriage equality.

[ruggerson]

14. I wasn't necessarily

correlating the two, though I'll freely admit this WH could not surprise me on that front.

Why, btw, do you suppose the WH isn't pushing Deval to get out of the Mass race, when his numbers are as bad as Paterson's?

[liberalpragmatist]

17. They aren't as bad as Paterson's

His approvals are in the mid-upper 30s and he's actually winning in the polls in a three-way race.

In any event, why would you suggest that gay marriage would be why they were pushing Paterson out when Deval Patrick is pro-marriage equality as well? Unless you have a different reason.

[ShortnFiery]

16. Go Martha Coakley!

I wish that I could vote for her. :-)

[phasma ex machina]

18. +1 "I believe we should begin the process of bringing our troops home."