Republicans are creating the next Vietnam with Bush's war gone wrong and some Democrats who have now shown their true colors are contributing to the slaughter mill in Iraq.
At issue were three proposals:
An amendment to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq by the end of this year, introduced by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-KY., last week. (The Senate voted 93 to 6 to reject it.)
A non-binding proposal offered by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich. and Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., to urge President Bush to begin “redeployment” of U.S. troops from Iraq by Dec 31, was rejected 60-39 Thursday.
A measure offered by Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisc., and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., that sets a deadline of July 1, 2007, for U.S. troops to be withdrawn – except for those needed to train Iraqi forces -- was rejected 86-13 Thursday.
WASHINGTON - The GOP-controlled Senate on Thursday rejected Democratic calls to start withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq by year's end, as the two parties sought to define their election-year positions on a war that has grown increasingly unpopular.
"Withdrawal is not an option. Surrender is not a solution," declared Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, who characterized Democrats as defeatists wanting to abandon Iraq before the mission is complete.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada, in turn, portrayed Republican leaders as blindly following President Bush's "failed" stay-the-course strategy. "It is long past time to change course in Iraq and start to end the president's open-ended commitment," he said.
Which Democracts voted for the war to continue?
Clinton, Biden, Lieberman, and Obama. Lieberman is hopefully going home this fall, but the other three can forget about the presidency.
John Kerry's response:
Dear William,
Just hours ago, the Senate voted on the Kerry-Feingold proposal to redeploy American combat troops out of Iraq by July 1, 2007. Thirteen Senators voted for it. It was an important step towards ending the administration's aimless, open-ended course in Iraq and having Iraqis stand up for Iraq. When Jack Murtha stepped up to the challenge of leadership in the House on Iraq, he was alone. Last week, 140 House members voted to support his leadership. When we in the Senate began the fight to change course in Iraq, we too were almost alone. Today our numbers grew -- and that is progress you made happen.
First and foremost, Russ and I thank you for your support. Over the last few weeks, hundreds of thousands of you have joined our effort to bring our combat troops home. Once again, the johnkerry.com community has shown its deep commitment to fighting for a better course for America.
We ask you to join us now in honoring the strength and leadership of the Senators who stood with you:
Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), co-sponsor
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT)
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), co-sponsor
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Please call, write, or email these Senators and acknowledge their leadership on Iraq.
Let me be absolutely clear. Russ Feingold and I would have forced this vote even if the outcome were going to be 98 to 2. Ending the Bush administration's disastrous approach to this war isn't about counting votes. It isn't about legislative strategy or electoral calculation. It's about applying constant pressure to change a broken course.
It's about utterly rejecting the desperate tactics of cowardly political operatives like Karl Rove who, as John Murtha pointed out, have no qualms about telling our soldiers to "stay the course" from the comfort of their air-conditioned offices at the White House.
It's about doing what's right.
Karl Rove may worry about losing votes. It's our job to worry about young Americans losing their lives. It's our job to provide a new vision that offers real security for America while giving the Iraqis their best chance for a stable Iraq.
I will keep doing what's right on Iraq, and I won't stop until our troops are home and the future of Iraq is in the hands of the Iraqi people.
I know you'll keep working right alongside me.
Sincerely,
John Kerry
Press statement from Jonathan Tasini, Hillary Clinton's NY primary opponent:
"Today, Hillary Clinton voted to prolong the violence and killing in Iraq. By voting against an amendment co-sponsored by Sens. John Kerry, Russ Feingold, Barbara Boxer and Patrick Leahy, my opponent clearly showed that she is out of step with the views of Democratic primary voters in New York. More American men and women will die, as will thousands of Iraqis, because of this vote and the Senate's failure to agree to bring this war to a quick end."
"Frankly, the Kerry-Feingold-Boxer-Feingold amendment did not go far enough. It called only for the removal of all U.S. troops by June 2007. If passed, the amendment would have meant that many more people would die in the next year in this pointless, immoral, illegal war. My position has been clear: I support legislation advanced by Rep. Jim McGovern (MA) which calls for the immediate cutting off of all funds for offensive military action in Iraq and allows for money to be spent only on the quick, immediate, safe withdrawal of U.S. troops, reconstruction of Iraq and the replacement of the U.S. military by an international security force."
"Yet, at least the proposed amendment would have been one small step to acknowledge that the war has been a failure and that the violence must end--an end that can only come when there are no more U.S. military personnel in Iraq. But, my opponent will not even vote for legislation that promises that our troops will be out of harm's way in one year. I believe it is now quite clear to the voters of New York that my opponent's support for the war continues and that, if she is re-elected, the war will continue unabated, with no end in sight." http://www.tasinifornewyork.org/issues
Find your Senator below and thank them for today's courageous vote. You may use the letter I wrote if you wish or just send them a simple thank you.
Dear Senator .......,
Thank you for your strength and leadership in the Senate today. Your brave and logical vote for the Kerry Feingold Iraq withdrawal proposal means a lot to Americans, both at home and in Iraq. Republicans are creating "Vietnam Part 2" and many Democrats are buying right into it. Today everyone showed their true colors. The intelligence is right this time. No WMD. No links to terrorism. No more excuses. And we should keep demanding no more deaths in Iraq!
Thank you for your vote. I know you'll keep up the battle to end this senseless and costly war as soon as possible.
Sincerely,.....
Senators who voted today for a guaranteed withdrawal of the troops:
Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) http://akaka.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), co-sponsor http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/policy.cfm
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm#contact
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) russell_feingold@feingold.senate.gov
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) http://harkin.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI) http://inouye.senate.gov/abtform.html
Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT) http://jeffords.senate.gov/contact.html
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) http://kennedy.senate.gov/senator/contact.cfm
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/contact/email.html
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) http://lautenberg.senate.gov/contact/
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), co-sponsor senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) http://menendez.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/
To ask your Senator why they are not on the above list, find them at:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Broken_Nation
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” - Abraham Lincoln
