So do you think the US Democrats have just shot themselves in the foot?

Question

With the death of al zarqawi the democrats lost their hold on the argument. Now with the party divided as to what to do about pulling troops out, do you think the Republicans will be able to seize this opportunity and regain congress? Especially with the elections coming up so quickly.

For those who don't know, the Democrats cannot come to a uniform conclusion as to what to do now that we have had two major successes, ousting two of the most dangerous men in the Middle East. Their old argument was, what the hell good are we doing? Now its, we've done our good its time to let them be. But no Democrat can quite agree how. Pull out immediately. Pull out by such and such date(Kerry). Pull out by this general time(Clinton).

The Republicans say we still have work to do. They have been led by filth for so long they need help settling back down.

Do you think the Republican will control Congress again with this new weakening of Democratic hold?

I never said there weren't Republicans who disagreed with Bush. That wasn't my question. But the general party stance sides with Bush, dissentors or no.

And I don't mean to spark a Rep - Dem debate. I'm curious what people think about this developement in Congress. I realize its not all about the war, but at the moment that's where the power is. He or she who can dictate the momentum of the war holds the power in Washingtion. And he or she with their thumb on the pulse of the people is a favorite.

Please don't answer if you just want to ***** at the other side.

OK - To save my own reputation, I don't like Kerry, Clinton, Bush, Rove or anyone else up there right now. I have no idea what to do about the war. Other then I don't think we should still be there I have no opinion of how or when to get us out.

Answer 1

I think the Democrats shot themselves in the foot long ago...back in 2000 when they became so entrenched in the "stolen election" argument.....They need to reinvent themselves.....big time. Get back to their party values, if they have any.

Answer 2

Wait, what do you mean, "Do you think the Republican will control Congress again"?!? When did they lose control of Congress? They haven't lost control yet!!!!

Anyway, to continue on to your question... I think that the Republicans have a very good chance of continuing their hold on government. However, I don't think Zarqawi's death affects things much. The Republican's win over the Democrats for several reasons,

1. The Democrats are not unified on their platform and they are inept as an organized party.

2. The Republican Party is willing to do whatever it takes to win. They would drum up lies against war heroes. They would dispense classified information to media spokespeople that support them. They have the money and the resources to run a successful campaign.

I see things shaking down this way... The Democrats will try to generate more and more support for pulling out of the war. The Republican's will continue their stance of sticking around until things are more settled (fixing some of the mess we've caused). The Republican's will then institute smear campaigns on talk radio shows and Fox News to discredit Democrat candidates. Expect to hear the terms, "tax & spend" & "waffling on issues". They will find at least two "non-issues" like flag-burning, gay marriage, and the godlessness of the Democrats to try and shift negative emotions towards the Dems.

You can already see some talk-radio hosts inferring that you cannot be a good christian if you are not Republican.

Me personally? I'm voting Libertarian.

Answer 3

Your question highlights just how tenacious the clutches of the liberal media are. They have us all hoodwinked into thinking that Iraq is some quagmire that can't be won.

This is preposterous. We are a nation that fought back the Japanese in the Pacific, while systematically crushing the combined Nazi forces of Germany and Italy. Does anyone seriously believe we can't handle some terrorists?

Consider just how ludicrous the liberal position is. In a very short span of time, we have made it possible for the Iraqis to draft their own constitution, elect an entire government, reconstitute their military, and train a new police force. This is a monumental undertaking, but the liberal press acts like we haven't made progress. Are they joking?

We have done nothing less than recreate an entire society from the ground up, and I'm not exaggerating. Saddam had let the country's entire infrastructure degrade so that he could use the resources to build an endless series of ostentatious palaces. So our troops have been busy at the thankless work of digging sewers for the Iraqis, building schools (3,000 so far!), getting their electrical grid back in order, etc.

If the U.S. leaves before the Iraqi government is strong enough to defend, sustain, and police itself, chaos will overtake that country, and we'll be in a mess 100 times worse than before. Iraq is like the terrorists' Gettysburgh. It's their last stand, and we're whalloping them. You may have read the excerpts from Al-Zarkawi to his commander, in which he (figuratively) said that the coalition forces were beating the crap out of them.

The terrorists have been reduced to hitting easy targets within Iraq. Better that we've got them handcuffed there rather than let them spread their destruction and chaos outside of Iraq's borders.

Liberals are relentless pessimists. They revel in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

I don't know if the Republicans can keep control of Congress. The Democrats pander to peoples' worst instincts, and they misrepresent the facts so that the average American always thinks he's helpless without a Big Brother government to keep him afloat.

Let's just hope Condaleeza Rice runs for President.

Answer 4

Nope, it won't help or hurt much. Most everyone has already come down on one side or the other, and the ones who haven't are pretty much so frustrated with both parties that they probably won't even vote unless a major third party/independent effort comes forward, and/or a new type of leader comes through one of the major parties. It's not all about the war.

I also have to agree with the first answer. The Democrats have shot themselves in the foot so many times that this new effort is almost meaningless. Anyone who hasn't abandoned them by now is probably fixated. I think if either party actually woke up and found something worthwhile to say/do, they'd find a lot of support coming their way. But most of Washington, on both sides, is so caught up in invective and politics that they've lost touch with the people.

Answer 5

The Dems are way ahead of the curve.

Put it this way. Just six months ago such a vote would never even have occured.
The fact that it has shows just how antsy the American public is about an open-ended concept of war.

Make no mistake, if the violence in Iraq does not abate by November the American people will not stand for silly slogans and a "stay the course" policy.

Answer 6

UM, maybe when Bush does something about North Korea, who I don't know if you knew this or not but they actually have a missile pointed at us, maybe then the dems will take out the gun and shoot themselves in the foot. But I guess we'll just keep our interests in Iraq because that's where the real danger is. Even though, well, bin Laden (who is actually poses the most danger to Americans) ain't there.

Otherwise, no.

No offense, but you opened Pandora's Box. You really can't ask a political question on this site without a political debate (albeit a rude and sometimes immature one).

I respectfully rescind my kool-aid remark and offer my apologies.

Answer 7

Some of these people crack me up...they can't wait until (IF) their party comes into control of Congress. They're gonna impeach Bush! They're gonna start investigations!

I have an idea...why not worry about terrorism? Why waste time on a loser President? Worry about the real problem...not just revenge because of the "stolen election" argument, or the "Bush lied" argument.

If you morons do retake Congress (IF) you'll only be there one term. Once the American people see how ignorant you really are they'll boot you right back out...nice idea...waste our time on Bush for some "payback" while our enemies still plot to kill us...nice idea, McFly.

Answer 8

Looking from the outside in, UK, I find it a little upsetting for democracy as a whole when there is no real opposition to the current gov. This kind of takes away from the point. I am not sure why there is no consensus other than they (Kerry et al) are too busy trying to look out for their own interests. I know I haven't really answered you question but I lament because our current political climate is even worse with all three main parties all clambering for centre left and looking like copies of one another.

Perhaps a revolution?

Answer 9

Your argument makes no sense. Zarqawi's replacement is the one who allegedly executed our 2 soldiers, so nothing has changed much. 85 Iraqis were kidnapped yesterday...it looks like more of the same.

There is a LONG time before elections, and even if Dems can't agree now, most Americans want us out and still blame Republicans for corruption, waste and horrible foreign relations.

Answer 10

I don't believe the Dem's shot themselves in the foot. I think they've been dead for along time.
Both parties are a mockery of what they were meant to represent.

Troop removal from Iraq will most likely take The US years. The instability that is so prevalent right now will likely continue until the US is gone.

Answer 11

I really hope that the Democrats haven't shot themselves in the foot, but unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised if they have. Republicans like to exploit the lack of unity among the Democrats and accuse them of "flip flopping". The Democrats need to find a common ground, grow some balls, and give the Republicans a good fight.