I'm the last person on earth that could be accused of being a "purity troll." You know what a purity troll is...folks who can't stand to be in the Democratic Party because the leaders don't support their pet position on a pet issue.
Again, I'm not such a person. I'm a party guy. Shoot, I'm an duly elected representative of my party locally. I'll always support my party, and try to make it better.
But I'm here to tell you...this Iraq funding bill...this ain't about purity.
It's about American values. And accountability.
Here's the deal: I've never had a problem with Democrats criticizing Democrats and their leadership. It should be encouraged, in fact. And if folks who supported this Congress, gave money, knocked on doors, did everything they could to help these folks get elected, if they happen to be mad and threaten to withhold support over the Iraq funding bill, I say...more power to them.
Here's why: Iraq is not some pet issue. It's not some sort of tax credit for alternative energy.
It is THE defining issue of our times. Period.
And it ain't a Democratic or Republican issue, or a liberal or conserative issue...it's an American issue. And as Americans, we're fed up.
The seeming capitulation by our Democratic leadership on benchmarks, timetables and like is going to piss off the base. And it has.
And the base needs to hold our leadership accountable by saying "This will not stand."
Assuming the bill being proposed passes, the base needs to voice their extreme opposition to such a move. Because if they DON'T, there will be NO hope for a resolution to this issue.
And that resolution is to get out of Iraq.
We're now being told that Congress is going to wait until the full Defense approps bill later this fall to address the issue fully. Fine. But it needs to be made clear: until it gets done, the way it needs to be done, then you better expect some serious grief from the folks that got you there.
That be us.
So please, don't tell us we're merely purity trolls because we're angry. Don't tell us that by threatening to pull support that it will result in fire and brimstone coming down from the skies, rivers and seas boiling, forty years of darkness, earthquakes, volcanoes, the dead rising from the grave, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, and mass hysteria.
Because it won't.
But it just might result in something we sorely need in our party.
Something called a backbone.