One thing I’ve realized is that the Democrats are not going to force an end to this war this year, and probably not next. It isn’t that the vast majority of Democrats do not want to end the war. They simply won’t. The easiest explanation for why they won’t is that they do not have the votes to end the war by passing something. The President will simply veto. The only way to end the war is to refuse to pass any money for the war. And that would mean a showdown where the Republicans blame the Democrats for defunding troops in a war zone, and then blame Democrats for every bad thing that happens as a result of our disastrous occupation of Iraq.
Make no mistake, it’s theoretically possible for the Democrats to end the war this way. But too many of them are unwilling to end the war this way. We can’t change that. The only way to end this war next year is if we can get enough Republicans to help us do it and to share the blame for whatever ensues.
And that is not bloody likely.
It should be likely. Pick any metric you want: polls, fundraising, recruitment, party identification, seats up for re-election, retirements, people under investigation or indictment…it all looks good for the Democrats. I saw a poll on issues this week that showed an electorate as progressive as any since 1964…just prior to our blowout election that brought us the Voting Rights Act and other Great Society legislation. Plus…the people HATE this war.
I wish I could make more Republicans understand that our sons and daughters are dying in the sands of Iraq to help build a permanent Democratic ruling majority…quite possibly with Hill and Bill back at the helm. I talk to progressives every day that think the Dems are going to blow it if they don’t stop this war. They’re wrong. The Dems are going to win blowout elections, unheard of blowout elections, if this war isn’t substantially settled as over by November ’08.
This is precisely why the Dems are not sufficiently motivated to end this war. Forcing an end in the only way available to force an end, is going to fracture the party and hand the Republicans the only weapon they have left in their arsenal. It’s still the right thing to do, but it won’t be done.
The obvious solution here is to make a deal with the Republicans that we will allow a caretaker government of old Washington hands to take over for the failed Bush/Cheney administration…and we will work together to end this war without recriminations…without pushing every partisan advantage. Dual impeachment is the order of the day. It’s no more radical than refusing to fund our military during a time of war.
I can only advocate. I can see that we’re going to fund this war. But we don’t have to keep the same failed leadership. If the Republicans really care about remaining a major party, they’ll listen.