Lying Headline Alert: For Democratic Leaders, a Fear That the Focus on the War Has Blurred

Tweet "The proposals will not be new. Rather, Democrats intend to reprise at least four ideas when the Senate considers the Defense Department policy bill: a measure to reverse the authorization for the Iraq war, set a deadline for troop withdrawal, block money for major combat operations after March 31, 2008, and increase readiness requirements for troops to be sent back to Iraq. “On Iraq,” Mr. Reid said, “we’re going to hold the president’s feet to the fire.”

Yeah, it really sounds like you are--if the fire is a 25 watt lightbulb wrapped in red cellophane. Linda

More of the sad article in the NYtimes is below. Whole article is here: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/washington/14cong.html?ex=1339473600&en=87128c8d67334811&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss


"It has been nearly three weeks since Democrats have held a formal Iraq debate or voted on an Iraq proposal in the House or Senate. Not since they assumed the majority in January has there been such a lull. During the three weeks, Congressional approval ratings have fallen, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she knew why.

“'It’s the war, I believe so, it’s the war,” Ms. Pelosi said in a brief interview on Wednesday. “In terms of the issue that the American people want to have resolved, the war is three or four times higher than any other issue.”

"Some Democrats argue that it is high time for the party to turn its attention to domestic issues — energy legislation, immigration overhaul and lobbying reform — to allay concerns that Democrats have not achieved enough significant accomplishments during the first six months of their majority. But other Democrats are demanding a return to the Iraq debate, which Mr. Reid has now pledged to do this month.

"The proposals will not be new. Rather, Democrats intend to reprise at least four ideas when the Senate considers the Defense Department policy bill: a measure to reverse the authorization for the Iraq war, set a deadline for troop withdrawal, block money for major combat operations after March 31, 2008, and increase readiness requirements for troops to be sent back to Iraq. “On Iraq,” Mr. Reid said, “we’re going to hold the president’s feet to the fire.”

"Democratic Congressional leaders have been stung by the decline in Congressional job approval ratings.

"A Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg nationwide telephone poll released this week found that 27 percent of Americans approve of the way Congress is handling its job, while 65 percent disapprove. And 29 percent of the more than 1,100 poll respondents, all registered voters, said Democrats were working to change how government is run, compared to 63 percent who said Democrats are governing in a business-as-usual manner. The margin of error was plus or minus four percentage points.

Found on Antiwar.com