Most popular story on Google News: "The Damage to Bush Is Enormous," Der Spiegel

[CatWoman]

"The Damage to Bush Is Enormous"

Republican Senators foiled a Democratic bid to have Congress criticize President George W. Bush's troop increase in Iraq. But with a clear majority of politicians on Capitol Hill opposing the White House's war strategy, is this a defeat for the president or for the Democrats? German dailies take a closer look.

Uncle Sam doesn't seem to know what he wants these days. The US House of Representatives gave President George W. Bush something of a bloody nose late last week but in the end the Senate blocked a Democratic resolution criticizing his policy in Iraq.

The House of Representatives had passed a motion by 246 votes to 182 on Friday, which criticized the decision to increase troop numbers in Iraq by 21,500 soldiers.

Democrats, who now control both Houses of Congress following the mid-term elections in 2006, had hoped that the Senate would pass the same motion during a rare Saturday session. The resolution needed the support of a total of 60 out of 100 senators. In the end it fell four votes short, with only 56 voting in favor and 34 against.

Both Congressional resolutions were non-binding and the White House was quick to dismiss the votes. However, it makes it clear that a majority of politicians on Capitol Hill oppose the US strategy in Iraq.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,467175,00.html

[Alamom]

1. Thank you for posting, I'm glad the world is seeing our Democratic

congress "IS" trying.

[spanone]

2. It would be refreshing to read that last line in an American media outlet.

'However, it makes it clear that a majority of politicians on Capitol Hill oppose the US strategy in Iraq.'

[meldroc]

3. Pushing for the Senate vote was the right thing to do.

Sure, we didn't get cloture. But we did force the GOP's hand. They were outnumbered, they were in the wrong, and they were going against the will of the people, so what did they do? They had to go out publicly with the filibuster, and make it plain to everyone that they're gaming the system to force their will on a public that clearly is against them. In the short term, they win, but they come out looking like the assholes they are, and they will eventually lose. The best tactic for Reid and Pelosi is to continue to make the GOP come out of the closet as assholes.

[demnan]

4. Our Republican Rep "Flipped"

and actually voted yes for no escalation. His reasoning was that his District was growing ever more liberal with "Suburban Professionals". (This is Northern Virginia)

I think it was because Jim Webb won as our Senator and that people are so fed up with the war.

[CatWoman]

6. Allen's defeat had to scare the shit out of Warner

:hi:

[demnan]

9. Yeah, but Warner has realized for some time

the folly of our involvement in Iraq. He went over there in November and has had many misgivings and supported the Coalitions recommendations. I wasn't surprised by his vote against escalation. :hi:

[EVDebs]

12. He needs to 'revisit' the IWR or AUMF authorization for use of military force

now in light of the fact that it currently violates the War Powers Resolution of '73 (no 'clear' (truthful) 'situations' and 'circumstances'), and that the original intent of the AUMF has been fulfilled.

A new authorization (without the offensive "...as he (Bush) determines..." language ) needs to be done or else withdraw and/or redeploy troops to Afganistan IMMEDIATELY. Let the Saudis and Iranians have at it. If Islam means killing let them get sick of it; Sadat of Egypt got the message loud and clear.

[Virginia Dare]

7. You must live in Tom Davis' District...

I thought his vote was interesting, he's really feeling the heat, and seems to be running away from his conservatism. Of course his grand plan is to run for Warner's seat and have his wife run for his vacated seat. Not gonna happen if his constituency continues to move to the left.

[demnan]

8. Yes I do!

We paid a visit to his neighborhood on Saturday for a snowy day of peace protest and "thank you, Tom, let's do more"

[AndyA]

5. Over in Germany, they have a saying about the current situation in the U.S.

"When George Bush farts, the rest of the world has to smell it."

That goes for most of America, too.

I guess the Kool-Aid drinkers like the smell of a fresh greasy one while they sip their Grape drink.

[EVDebs]

10. When morons like Sen McCain say we'll be in Iraq for '10, 20 years'

"When asked this week on CNN how long the U.S. military is likely to remain in Iraq, Senator John McCain replied "probably" 10 or 20 years. "That's not so bad," he said..."

from Bob Herbert's 'Heads in the sand' article
http://spectrumz.com/z/fair_use/2004/09_04.html

and when the Prez says we'll step down when Iraqis step up, while at the same time siccing the NSA onto Quakers who post a weblink showing the PERMANENT BASES in Iraq,

'If the U.S. is ultimately leaving Iraq, why is the military building 'permanent' bases?'
http://www.fcnl.org/iraq/bases.htm

and that the insurgency is fuelled by Iraqis themselves understanding this--while our own politicians deny it--you have polls of Iraqis stating it's ok to kill US troops because of this cognitive dissonence and our own MEDIA (not DU thank God !) not mentioning this

""A September 2006 poll of both Sunnis and Shias found that 71% of Iraqis wanted the U.S. to leave within a year, with 65% favoring an immediate pullout and 77% voicing suspicion that the U.S. wanted to keep permanent bases in Iraq.<31> 61% approved of attacks on U.S. forces.<32>""

from 'Analysis and Polls' at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_insurgency

[underpants]

11. Also from Germany

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=251489&mesg_id=251489

[redacted]

13. Where do we find the most popular stories on Google News?

I hadn't heard of that feature. Where do they rank these stories?

[CatWoman]

14. got it from Salon

Buzz Index

Most linked to news article on Technorati: "Soldiers Face Neglect, Frustration at Army's Top Medical Facility," Washington Post
Most e-mailed story from the New York Times: "Housing Market Heats Up Again in New York City"
Top entertainment story on Digg: "IMDB Interface Changes"
Most popular story on Google News: "The Damage to Bush Is Enormous," Der Spiegel


http://www.salon.com/ent/col/fix/2007/02/20/tue/index.html