Did Democrats earn "Capital" in the last election?

Question

G.W. Bush needs to learn some about the American government. He must have missed that class in High School. He needs to learn how it works. Someone should teach him. In America Congress controls the money.
In the last elections Democrats "earned capital and they intend to spend it". Those are GW Bush words. He used them after being defeated by John Kerry in Ohio.
G.W. Bush also needs to learn that in our form of Government "the will of the people" is the work of those elected to Congress. If Bush refuses to except our form of Government then Bush and Cheney should both be impeached. It's up to Democrats to end the occupation of Iraq. Congress and the American people have spoken on that issue. The will of the people will prevail.

Some do not understand even simple High School American Government. Congress and the President have equal but Seperate powers. GW Bush is not a King.

BTW, Iraq is a occupation. It is not a "war on terror". The word defeat does not apply. Congress approved the removal of Saddam and the search for WMDs. Congress has never approved the occupation open ended.

Answer 1

Not as much as the republicans lost credibility. I do agree the American people elected the democrats to get us out of Iraq and they are in the process of doing just that. Amen.

Answer 2

In the whole 'system of checks and balances' the framers of the constitution came up with, Congress does have the 'power of the purse,' and they absolutely can choose to de-fund the Iraq War.

However, there are two obstacles to simply turning off the funds. One is that the Democrats have a majority in Congress, but not the votes to overturn a presidential veto, so they can't just pass a funding bill with a cutoff date, which is what they'd like to do. The other is that the Democrats /do/ control Congress, so if they did de-fund the war by the simple expediency of not voting it funds, rather than voting funds with strings attached, they'd be taking full responsibility for, in effect, 'losing' the war.

They're banking on being able to lay that defeat at the doorstep of thier political rivals in the administration. If the war carries over into the next presidency, there's a danger that the Democrat in office at that time may be brought down by it - since she (or he) will be faced with the same unenviable choice of slow failure or swift defeat.

Answer 3

Political Capital...yes. Momentum...yes. Did they earn it...I would say No. They got it by default. Two things to watch...K street lobbyist, who are they courting and the rallies prior to State primaries for both parties. Are the party activists fired up for a candidate...then you got capital. If they swimming with the tide...then its looking bleak.

Answer 4

And your point is? No they did not earn capital. It is still his call, and they are trying to undercut the executive branch.

Answer 5

agree.excellent question!!