…and Kos is wrong. Clearly, there are no negotiations to be had with Bush. He won’t sign anything with a timeline. And clearly the Democrats are not going to cut off funding for the troops–nor should they: our withdrawal has to be careful and intelligent, not precipitous. As Jim Webb says, we have to leave this war more responsibly than we entered it. The best course for Democrats, as Obama suggests, is to shorten Bush’s leash–shorten the authorization periods. If Republicans are faced with monthly votes to extend an unpopular war, their pressure to dump Bush–or force him to change strategy–will mount. You can see the 2008 political ads now, “Norm Coleman voted to extend the war in Iraq in March of 2007, in April of 2007, in May of 2007, in June of 2007…” and so on.
But I’d also try to publicize the $4 billion or so we’re spending on this disaster each week…and to continue to find new ways to emphasize that the Democratic position reflects the centrist Baker-Hamilton consensus.
From Terrapin:
Also, you wrote: “But I’d also try to publicize the $4 billion or so we’re spending on this disaster each week…and to continue to find new ways to emphasize that the Democratic position reflects the centrist Baker-Hamilton consensus.”
That is a great idea! Do you happen to know anybody who has a column in a national print magazine? Maybe a weekly?!? Throw us a bone here.
Do you not read my column? Just asking.