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Edited on Sun Jul-08-07 05:13 PM by welshTerrier2
A lot of the others are really, really mad at you. I kind of like you. You're kind of spunky in a quiet sort of way. You come across as reasonable and down to earth instead of like those chest-puffing pontificaters.
Man, you sure messed up on that Iraq funding thing though. What the hell were you thinking? I mean, first of all, what was the point of entering into a fight if you weren't going to see it through. Many of us had real hopes that you meant business but then, right there with all eyes watching you, and many of them seeing you as leading the battle for real change, Poooooooofffffff !!! Cave in ... Meggggggga-cave in.
So, now what? I like the way you seem to stand with much of what Feingold wants to do. Seems like your left ear is working pretty well.
Still, I thought I'd better stop by and clue you in before the bell rings to start the next round.
Don't make the mistake that you can fix the last mess with compromised incrementalism. That last foolishness turned up the burners on you all the way. What was "yeah, OK, I could sort of settle for that" last time is OVER and DONE and DEAD. Got that, Harr? OVER and DONE and DEAD. KAPUT ...
General Odom, the former NSA Director under Reagan, just published an article that said there are only two ways the Congress can stop bush in Iraq. One way is to cut-off funding for any purpose beyond the most rapid exit from Iraq that troop safety will allow. I'm thinking that's more like 3 months or maybe 4 maximum. Harry, trust me on this, don't try to soft sell another 6 to 9 months. It's crazy and you'll be no better off than you are now. The troops certainly won't be either.
The second remedy that Odom suggested was impeaching both bush and cheney. Tell them the "back door draft" and intolerable conditions they've stressed the troops under is treasonous and that they will be put on trial for high crimes and misdemeanors. We're not talking just impeachment and removal from office, we're talking serious crimes with lots of prison time. bush can't pardon himself.
Harry, the troops are dying everyday. We've heard all sorts of prescriptions for years from all sorts of Democrats. We need to "train" the Iraqis to protect themselves. That worked out great, eh? We tore down their country and we have to help rebuild it. How's that going so far? We need "diplomacy" because a military only approach can't work. Harry, bush won't do diplomacy. You need to get real about this. The only diplomacy is a US puppet government who does what it's told. Looks like the Iraqis are about to take down Maliki. Frankly, it's about time. Harry, the place is a burning inferno. It's horrible. We aren't making it better.
Timelines are no longer acceptable, Harry. To endorse a timeline, you have to be able to justify putting American troops at risk for even one more day. Can you do that, Harry? Can you really make a case that something, i.e. anything good, can still be accomplished? I don't see how you can. Everyday is hell, Harry. Tomorrow is, the day after that is, and the day after that too. The only answer, Harry, is no more days. Zero. Timelines make no sense. They are immoral.
And don't be discouraged by "not having the votes" or by bush's veto pen. If bush threatens a veto, you threaten him. Got that, Harry? You tell him his imperial ass is going to wind up in a prison cell. And if the others won't support you, you tell them you won't be bringing any more funding bills to the floor at all. bush can't veto a bill that never gets out of committee.
Harry, you have to fix this mess now. Each day you delay means more deaths. It could be your kid, Harry. Act like it is. Stop the war now. Get the troops out of there. If you don't give in to the lunatics, there's no way they can win. Oh, and one last thing, Harry. Don't get suckered by the Clinton-Byrd silliness about needing to "re-authorize" the war. That's a dead end. bush will totally ignore it. Cut off funding and threaten to impeach his sorry ass.
The American people will love you for it, Harry. Trust me on this.
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