What do you think the Democrats should do with this one?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070410/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq
I think they should tell Bush to recall Fox, Fire Gonzales and then we might be interested in a meeting here at the Capitol and OH by the way bring some new ideas because your stubbornness is not winning anyone over

Answer 1

I think that that is a ridiculous attitude. Just like it is wrong for Bush to say "No, you do it my way, no negotiations," it's equally wrong for the majority party in Congress to take the same approach. If they are being invited to discuss Iraq war funding, make that the issue--don't try to strong arm the President by throwing in a totally separate issue. I'm not saying the Democrats should back down on their troop withdrawal requirements. But you're saying the Democrats should say "We're not even going to talk to you about the Iraq war until you do something about the Federal Prosecuters scandal..." If anything, I'd rather see things the other way around--I'd rather see the Democrats refuse to conduct any other governmetn business UNTIL an Iraq withdrawal plan is in place.

Answer 2

For people who have been following this closely, the Democrats have made one very ugly tactical error, but fortunately for them the Republicans have not capitalized on it.

The fact that the Iraq spending bill included 20 billion dollars worth of non-military related pork in a bill that was 120 billion (20%) could have really been something the Bush administration hit hard on. Basically, Democrats were bribing their own members to vote for the bill with unrelated targeted domestic spending (peanut silos and the like).

If Bush had threatened to veto the bill because of the wasteful spending in it, the Democrats would have been in deep trouble. The public is not fond of wastefull spending, the Democrats have promised to reduce the defecit and this doesn't help at all, and the White House could have very effectively shifted the blame.

Suppose Bush vetoed the bill and said "Send me one without the pork and I'll consider it." Democrats might have a hard time coming up with enough votes to pass a similar bill that included time tables but no extra spending. Bush could win the battle, and have the American public behind him on the issue. Frankly, this is the kind of adroit political manuevering President Clinton might have employed (like the budget crisis of '95).

In order to head Bush off, they should submit a bill with no pork, and make sure the veto is about the real issue (Iraq). The Dems have the support of the public, in terms of polls, regarding Iraq. They don't have any support over the extra money they packed into the bill.

Answer 3

I think the democrats will continue down the road they are on now, which the president will veto.

They hope that the public backlash resulting from failure to fund our troops will be directed toward the administration and republicans.

But, I don't think that "Joe Citizen" will see it their way and this ploy will backfire on them not only now but in the coming presidential campaign and election.

The congress has two choices and two only here.

Fund the troops, or

Cut their funding.

They are trying to use this choice to their political advantage and if one American soldier dies as a result of their failure to fund them, there will be a great deal of political fallout for the democrats.

Answer 4

I'm an Independent, but I am for a troop withdrawl this year. Being put into the role of policemen and women in Iraq is costing us too many lives and too much money. Nothing is getting accomplished that is rebuilding the country or building a government for them.

Answer 5

Remove the timetable from the Funding Bill. If they want a Timetable write a seperate piece of Legislation detailing the timeline they want and pass that.

I think the funding for current operations should be seperate from Congress's wanting a timetable.

Answer 6

Bush has revealed himself to be so arrogant that his support has eroded beyond recovery. I think it is time to hold his and his supporters feet to the fire. The neo-cons have perpetrated a lie upon the people, so now it is time to face the music. Just watch... many republicans will distance themselves from him in an attempt to save face with their constituency. I am sure he will be noted as the worst president in history. And he deserves it. He started it, so let him along with his supporters reap their just reward, ouster & ridicule.

Answer 7

No reason to recall Fox or fire Gonzales.

Answer 8

Demand the FBI charge Rep Jefferson and let the courts decide

Answer 9

If he's refusing to withdraw troops then we should switch the effort from a war effort to having our troops be there in a humanitarian sense.

Answer 10

Meet with him. What harm can it do? They need to quit picking on each other and try to work out a resolution.