Sorry Howard, I love you but you aren't framing the message right on the Iraq war and what to do there from now on.
I guess this is where the experts like Murtha know their stuff better.
I was thinking about the new RNC attack ad, Dean and how Murtha blew this debate open and gave the Dems an opening that they, till now, have failed to exploit. Incidentally, Murtha's interview gave me an idea.
Dean said "the idea that the war can be won is wrong".
BEEP! WRONG answer!
You are in the politics business Howie, you have to frame your message better. A politican who tells the "can-do" American public that something can't be done doesn't win. And the sad thing is, Murtha is saying the things that you could use to frame this debate in your favor.
Murtha is saying: the war is over, the mission is accomplished and the Bush Administration is not seeing it.
Saddam regime overthrown - Check
Saddam killed or captured - Check
Saddam's sons killed or captured - Check
Saddam's regime members killed or captured - Check
Saddam's "arsenal of WMDs" secured - Ok..let's not go there.
So why is the President saying we have to "stay the course"? The Army and the Marines have WON it for the US, why isn't the President redeploying the troops out of Iraq??!!
The Republicans will say that the mission is not over, that the country has to be secured for Iraqis, that we will "stand down when they stand up".
To this there is a simple answer: our military shouldn't be used to operate prison camps, run sewer projects or fix power plants in Baghdad.
See: our military is like an olympic boxer. The best way to use it is to fight and destroy the enemy. It has done that.
Bush is using this boxer now as a mninimum wage meat-packer. Sure, he can do that too but at a declining cost. Prize boxers shouldn't be asked to fight bar room brawls and the military shouldn't be asked to nation build by running sewer projects.
So what is the Democratic position on Iraq?
It is simply this:
- Mission accomplished: The troops have accomplished the mission, the war is over and it is time for them to be phased out of Iraq.
- The Democrats are an American party and they will put the interest of the American people first and the American people want an end to this nation building effort (NOTE: not war)
- Looking forward, we have to rebuild our forces and ensure that they aren't used for tiring and sapping nation building efforts. Prize boxers don't do barroom brawls and great armies don't run sewer projects.
This is the safe,face save method out that will be acceptable to the American public. If the Democrats don't use it now, I bet you the Republicans will use the same "mission is over" theme before the 2006 elections to bring them back and win the elections.
And if the Dems still haven't hammered this in by then, they should just disband and quit.