I ran across the following post on Metafliter
I found myself agreeing with it.
What do you think? Is it on the money, or way off base?
The Democratic Leadership was nowhere to be seen.
According to the Washington Post
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told colleagues at a closed meeting yesterday morning that she, too, would advocate an immediate troop withdrawal, according to several who attended. But by day's end, Pelosi -- a liberal who has sharply criticized Bush's handling of the war -- chose merely to praise Murtha and say he deserved to have "his day."
It's just his day, Leader Pelosi? Then on what day do you intend on leading the Democratic Party -- or this country? If in your opinion, Murtha's right, then get behind him and fight. If he's got it wrong, then tell us that.
But either way, we need a Democratic Leadership that leads on all days. And one that isn't too busy watching the direction the wind is blowing. And we need that leadership today.
The Washington Post continued:
Murtha's Democratic colleagues reacted warily to his remarks, while Republicans pounced [on Murtha]. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), head of the House Democrats' campaign effort, said, "Jack Murtha went out and spoke for Jack Murtha." As for Iraq policy, Emanuel added: "At the right time, we will have a position."
Well Rahm, when's the right time? When's the right time for the oldest political party in the nation to have "a position" on the biggest U.S. foreign policy mistake in three decades? How many more American boys have to die for a mistake before it's the "right time" for the Democratic Party to have "a position"?
(And if Rahm can't "hack it", I hear there's another ex-Marine who can "Hackett".)
Brave ex-Marine John Murtha stormed a beach today, and for speaking the truth took withering fire from the White House and was called a "cut and run" coward by Republican Speaker Hastert.
And while Murtha stormed the beach the Democratic "Leadership" can only dither behind the lines, telling Murtha -- and the country they purport to be ready to lead -- to wait for "the right time"?
"Take that beach for us John. Give us the cover of your thirty-year reputation as a conservative, pro-military hawk. And by and by, John, we'll be right behind, as soon as when the polls tell us it's safe."
The Democratic Leadership is nowhere to be seen.
This is leadership? If this is the leadership the Democratic Party offers America, we deserve to stay a minority party.
John Murtha in his speech characterized the war in Iraq as "a flawed policy wrapped in illusion" and went on, "[t]he American public is way ahead of the members of Congress."
Both of those truths seem to apply equally well to our Democratic Party's congressional leadership.
posted by orthogonality