In response to the diary by Mr. Kerry
Edit: OPOLs new diary as always greatly articulates what I can't put into words.
there's far less Democratic disunity than the media storyline portrays
Meanwhile, the Republicans are...not unified at all on this.
The facts don't match your portrayal. I see exactly the opposite. I see Democrats talking about ending the war and then caving in to Republican demands to "support the troops" when in reality they are sending more troops to their death. Meanwhile I hear about Republicans expressing concern about the ongoing war but voting unanimously in support of the president. The picture you paint does not match reality sir.
Your solution to the Iraq occupation:
put the pressure on the Roadblock Republicans to force them to take a new tack.
if we had the unity you claim we have in the democratic party we wouldn't need to pressure the roadblock republicans. If I had to guess, the targeting of roadblock republicans is just as much a political stunt to get more democrats elected as it is an attempt to stop the war. Of course that is the mission statement of DailyKos and I'm fine with that. The problem is putting a capital 'D' in front of someone's name doesn't make them fit to run the country or represent the people. If it did then the troops would be home, the Bill of Rights would still be intact, and articles of impeachment would be out for Bush and Cheney. How about instead of trying to influence the opposing party you focus on getting control of your own? I’m all for helping get Democrats elected but ending the occupation of Iraq must come first. Instead of trying to do both at the same time why not take an approach that maximizes the chances of solving the problem of the occupation first? Expecting republicans to vote against Mr. 25% doesn't sound like the best method. Convincing the democrats to stand strong against the prez does.
If you disagree with this how about you explain to me how it’s more rational to get a group of Republicans to turn against the President and his Iraq policy than to get all of the Democrats to reject it? The power of the purse is the one weapon the democratic majority has against the roadblock republicans and the warmonger in the white house.
The democrats are sitting on a winning lottery ticket and they can't show enough spine to cash it in. If you stand strong to fund withdrawal only you gain the respect of the majority of americans, you show the dems can stand up for themselves, you'll end the war which 70% of americans want, your approval ratings will stop in mid freefall where they are now and start shooting up, and you'll save the lives of so many people instead of allowing them to die. In boggles the mind how a group capable of accomplishing these things continues to pass up the opportunity!