Was it possible for the Democrats to stop the surge

[bryant69]

Poll question: Was it possible for the Democrats to stop the surge

I'm not asking whether or not they should try (although I am somewhat comfortable that many of you will give your opinion on that question) - the question is if Reid, Pelosi, and Company had put everything on the line could they have stopped this surge?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[blm]

1. I said probably because if Ted Kennedy said it is possible legislatively than it

probably is. There is no one who knows legislation aspect of the debate better.

[phantom power]

2. Probably. But in my opinion, the real point is...

that the Dems could have made a better effort. If it succeeded, great. But even if it failed, it would have forced the GOP to own their war. A war that's no longer popular. So America would either gain in the short term, or the GOP would lose in the long term. No downside there.

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. Doubt it. Karl managed to keep the Cons together

and short of telling them they'ld give Bush his Social Security Reform plan in total then playing the Con tactics of lying...err changing their mind when it came to a vote, then there's just no way in hell they would get 70+ votes for a vote.

At this point, if I were Harry Reid, I'd bring it up again, let Judd Gregg have his whiney little opposition bill brought up as an amendment then knock it down under one of the rules. Then, if Bush vetoes it it's on his head and use it to turn the knife in every Con that voted against it.

But that's just me.

[AndyTiedye]

4. The Repigs Can Always Accuse us of Not Supporting the Troops. That is Their Trump Card

It is the sort of trump card that they can play over and over, and it always wins.

[Double T]

5. How do you STOP a troop escalation that is already in progress??

The Democrats should be 'withholding' approval of additional 'war' funding until a troop withdrawal time line has been provided by the debacler-in-chief.

[bryant69]

6. ah - wouldn't that largely accomplish the same ends though?

And is that doable?

Bryant

[Double T]

9. It would accomplish the ultimate goal and make bushco accountable......

to a time line for troop withdrawal. The Congressional Democrats need to quit the 'non-binding' legislative crap and find enough rethug support for troop withdrawal time line legislation. NOTHING is easy when you are dealing with stubborn, irrational, insane, greedy rethugs.

[bryant69]

10. Of course it isn't easy - but is it doable?

That's the question. If the Democrats just hung around Republicans and argued with them till they were blue in the face, could they convince enough of them to cut off funding?

Course, come to think of it, they'd probably have to visit a few Democratic offices as well.

Bryant

[Tellurian]

7. Simple- they didn't have the votes!

[alfredo]

8. McConnell was able to convince enough party members that if they

voted for the resolution, they would receive no money for reelection. Remember, McConnell is the big money man in the GOP.