How 3 of our Democrats twist Murtha's plan and disapprove.

[madfloridian]

I have not read about others yet, but they are really going after him. These three are Blue Dogs, I think.

Letting Troops go to battle without training or equipment

Yes, I agree, David Sirota is playing on some WP words here, but so are the 3 Demcorats.

In effect here is Murtha's plan from the link:

"To be sent to battle, troops would have to have had a year's rest between combat tours. Soldiers in Iraq could not have their tours extended beyond a year there. And the Pentagon's 'stop-loss' policy, which prevents some officers from leaving the military when their service obligations are up, would end. Troops would have to be trained in counterinsurgency and urban warfare and be sent overseas with the equipment they used in training."

I knew the Blue Dogs would oppose any attempt at anything looking like cutting funds for fear of being called unpatriotic, but this is overkill.

Here are their remarks:

The reaction from some Democrats was swift and Fox News-ish. Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT), of pro-bankruptcy bill and pro-CAFTA voting fame, fumed that Murtha's proposal "is a non-starter, an absolute non-starter" because he claimed - without any proof - that it "holds back resources from our troops." Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) breathlessly declared that Murtha "stepped all over message of support for the troops." And Freshman Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), who's major campaign issue was opposition to the Iraq War, said he is "a bit wary" of the proposal.

I wonder if Matheson, Cooper, and Sestak read Murtha's proposal.

[kenny blankenship]

1. I guess they don't want any money for highways in their districts...

seems like their constituencies would be angry at them for cutting them out--I don't know about Sestak's district but I rather expect those folks in Tennessee and Utah could use the money, and I know they are dying in disproportionate numbers because of the war.

[AX10]

2. As a moderate Democrat, I must say that these Blue Dogs...

are not moderate, but very conservative.

[Breeze54]

3. Yup! They're DINO'S!

:grr:

[madfloridian]

4. Yes, very conservative.

Very much into fiscal stuff. The part that bothers me is they think Pelosi is too liberal, and may cross her frequently.

[depakid]

6. The fatser that Pelosi marginalizes and dispiplines them

the better. Dems like these we don't need- and they hurt the party AND the country in the olong run.

[opihimoimoi]

5. I wonder if they were funded and directed to the Dem Party by them Pubs??

Carl Sheeler from RI tried that and lost in the Dem Primary...he then backed the Pub Candidate in the Gen...revealing his true colors....

Them Pubs will try anything....including DINO's....

[madfloridian]

7. Talked to a couple of these offices today...

I get the impression they think they have done their job by voting for the nonbinding resolution. They really believe Murtha is wrong. They believe he jumped the gun, and they appear to believe that Bush needs to have the ability to wage war without being too restricted. They don't seem to want to take the power away from him. These are not exact words, they are impressions.

I read this summary of Murtha's plan, and they to think it is too binding in case of more war or things happening.

""To be sent to battle, troops would have to have had a year's rest between combat tours. Soldiers in Iraq could not have their tours extended beyond a year there. And the Pentagon's 'stop-loss' policy, which prevents some officers from leaving the military when their service obligations are up, would end. Troops would have to be trained in counterinsurgency and urban warfare and be sent overseas with the equipment they used in training."

They are from what I can tell, not about to do anything to stop this war.

[dkofos]

8. Murtha's plan is all well and good, but it does not get the troops home

this year

[madfloridian]

10. No plan does.

I wanted them to be specific with me. I feel pretty sure that the Democrats won't be bringing them home soon. I realize Bush has the last word, but I don't think we will even push him.

I don't know where this fierce belief that the president needs total power in cases like this comes from....I wish we would at least fight.

Or like PA's new congressman Patrick Murphy said on Countdown last night:

We can pray.

[dkofos]

11. My Plan does. But nobody listens to me.

[MoonRiver]

9. Why are our leaders letting DINOs call the shots?

This is ridiculous and NOT what they were elected to do!
:banghead: