How long have the Democrats had the ability to stop the war?

Question

I thought it would be since they took the majority in Congress. Is that right? What was the date if anybody knows?

kevw who is bashing, i'm asking a question. Maybe it's too sensitive an issue for you.
Well, stop the funding would mean, we would have to withdraw. Do you actually the think the pentagon is going to leave our troops there with no bullets? Are you really seriously saying that?

So, people complain about "Bush's" war but don't give any credit to the dems who continue to finance it? That doesn't seem fair to me.

How does eliminate funding for the war not put an end to it? How does the war continue with no money? How does the military get funding for the war?

Answer 1

They don't.
The president commands the armed forces, only he can bring them home.
The congress could attach restrictions to the use of the armed forces, or decline to fund them, but without a supermajority in the Senate, cannot overcome a Republican filibuster (aren't they glad they didn't use the 'nuclear option' now!).

Answer 2

They never have. When they supported it, even if they hadn't, they were in the minority. Now, there is so much division in Congress on what is the correct way to end the war that even with a majority and even if the President didn't veto it, they cannot get enough votes for passage (thus the watered-down stuff). Even if they did, the majority is far too small to override a veto. It was a huge blunder on the Democrats part to raise the expectations of some of their most vocal voters that they had the power to end the war. Talk about setting oneself up for failure!

Answer 3

We've never had it . . . We can only stop funding. We need 2/3 majority vote of both house and senate to stop the war. It's an often overlooked technicality. Our majority is three - one Democrat had a stroke so it may be down to two.

Regarding your question on how cutting funding does not stop the war - there still is a residual pentagon and defense budget. The President could simply draw funds from those accounts. Estimates are generally accepted at three to four months.

Answer 4

they cant stop the war unless they have at least 2/3 of the majority to vote on their side (the amount needed to override a veto).

as long as bush still has people in congress that are willing to follow whatever he says, the democratic led congress still cant stop it.

it wont take long for more of his support to drop. he's been saying all this time that he needs "more time" for his plans to work. well, the war has been on for 5 years, and he was on the news yesterday saying that there still isnt enough progress. the guy is full of crap, and congress, despite everything they want to do, cant change the fact that he's full of crap, or get rid of him, which is the only thing that will jumpstart progress.

Answer 5

They could have kept Bush from getting the authorization to use force. He might have invaded anyway. In our government, it is much easier to stop something before it happens than it is to stop it once it's going. A President can veto what Congress passes, and then it takes 2/3 of House and Senate to override his veto. The Democrats have nowhere near 2/3 of either.

Answer 6

They took office in the first week of January and had the ability during the first 100 days to end all funding - they could have simply funded the "withdrawl" of troops and there would have been nothing the president could do about it - except withdraw the troops. They don't have the guts; they would be wrong in doing so and they know it. It would cost far more lives to do so then what is being lost now.

Answer 7

they don't.

republicans have resorted to the filibuster over 40 times since the dems took control

and to get anything done they need a 60-40 vote in the senate.

here's making sure they get it and then some in '08.

anyone who heard the president's insane speech today, knows that he and any who support him need to be stopped basically right away...

Answer 8

Never. You might want to learn how the government works before bashing political parties.

Answer 9

only the president
can call the troops home
congress can only stop support for them

would you have our troops
starved and bulletless in Iraq?
you might, but most wouldn't

Answer 10

Never, or not yet.