Until September...

[fooj]

My response to Congressman Murtha's blog at HuffPost:

Today, I spent over an hour researching FACTS that I intended to use writing a piece appealing to people's reason. The title:
NANCY PELOSI ENDORSED JACK MURTHA. DID YOU?

I wanted to talk about the wedge issues (abortion and gun control) and a 26 year old allegation that the DLC/Blue Dogs used against you while you ran for House Majority Whip. I wanted to tell anyone that would listen how YOU were the first to speak out against this war/occupation and it was because of that courageous stand Speaker Pelosi did what the people asked and endorsed you for Majority Whip.

I wanted to contrast your principled position regarding this war with the position of Majority Whip Hoyer. In the words of Congressman Hoyer:

I believe that a precipitous withdrawal of American forces in Iraq could lead to a disaster, spawning civil war, fostering a haven for terrorists and damaging our nation's security and credibility.

I wanted to share my research on what, exactly, were the responsibilities of the Whip that I found at the United States Senate Art and History link.

"The term 'whip' comes from a foxhunting expression--'whipper-in'--referring to the MEMBER of the hunting TEAM RESPONSIBLE for keeping the dogs from STRAYING FROM THE TEAM during a chase."

I wanted to argue that this WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED if the Democrats elected a Whip that was dedicated to advancing the will of BOTH Speaker Pelosi and the American people. Your record was clear. The constant voice for change in Iraq distinguished you as a leader showing courage, determination and integrity. You gave us hope, sir. You gave us strength.

Regretably, I wasn't able to write that piece today. I expected certain factions of the party to capitulate. It appears to be in their DNA. However, never in my wildest dreams did I consider the remote possibility of you voting YES on this bill. Your compassion and concern was authentic and your RAGE palpable. You were our voice of reason- our passionate dissent. We placed our trust in you. You PROMISED that you would DO THE RIGHT THING for our country and for our beloved soldiers. How could this have happened?

Yes. This is George Bush's illegal and immoral war. He owns it. The Republicans own it. This treasonous administration rife with war criminals owns it.
Now tragically, sir...so do you.

Until September...

*****************************************************

I'm on my way over to Huffington to post this as a response to a piece written by Murtha this evening. I've decided to send it "snail mail" to him, as well. It's all true. All of it. I fully intended on posting a detailed argument outlining how important it was that we remain committed and determined in our fight to bring an end to this occupation. I still feel that way yet my faith has been shaken. I need some REASONABLE answers from Congressman Murtha. I'm having a hard time understanding his motives. I want some answers because I just can't wrap my mind around his rationale. Like I said in my letter to the Congressman, I expected capitulation from some but NOT from him. Damn it.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

1. Excellent post fooj. I am furious that the man that I supported for Congress and voted for

in November, a so-called Progressive Democrat, John Hall, voted Yes too. I called his offices after hours last night and left a scathing message. I feel betrayed.

[babylonsister]

2. Great post, fooj, and I feel your disappointment. What happened to

Murtha? Pls. let us know if he responds to you.

[blm]

3. Very heartfelt piece, fooj.

I feel that Murtha did what he did to support Pelosi on this with some certain knowledge that there is more to come that WILL make a difference.

That is my hope - that another angle is being worked on - at least, that is what my last shreds of optimism are saying.

Love ya, fooj.

[H2O Man]

4. Nominated.

Very good. Thank you.

[Toots]

5. Do you know nothing of Murtha's voting record?

Murtha has been the bluest of blue dogs and has sided with Republicans more than Democrats in the past. You wouldn't expect him to capitualate???It is on the issue of how the troops are being played that get's his goat. He really could give a shit about the Iraqi people..I want people that care about other people and not just their own little pet projects...

[Polemicist]

6. I'm afraid we were only fooling ourselves for 4 months...

I've gone from angry to disgusted to depressed to reflective about what we just witnessed from our party (yes, I'm a proud Democrat) on this war debate for the last 4 months. And I've come to the conclusion that the result we just saw, was preordained from the beginning of this war funding fight and the "battle" for time lines, etc. was merely show to placate us, the anti-war Democratic base.

How else can one explain the perplexing negotiating strategy of broadcasting that you have but one bullet in your gun (defunding the war), but you will not under any circumstances, fire that bullet. There ultimately was, quite frankly in retrospect, no other possible outcome than the one we just witnessed.

So we must ask ourselves, why did the Democratic leadership engage in a long 4 month non-bluff game of poker with President Bush? I believe that it was simply to show some sort of effort to end the war, no matter how unlikely a positive outcome was. There is little difference in the head count to end the war today as opposed to January. Perhaps some increase in support for defunding or time lines, but the solid majority of Congress was in favor of Bush's call for no strings attached funding. And that was almost all the Republicans and the Blue Dog Democrats. Pelosi and Reed aren't stupid, they can count, in January as well as in May.

This effort gained the Democratic leadership our support. It illustrated that they intended to end the war. But they were outmaneuvered by Bush's surge plan, that provided an excuse for most in Congress to approve 2007 funding for the war. Could anyone imagine how loud our outrage would have been had nothing been done to fight against Bush's war and the funding reality acquiesced to in January rather than in May?

Yes, it was political theatre. And it was necessary political theatre. As history shows us that groundwork must be done to move the nation solidly behind ending a war. And that's what was accomplished from January to May. A beginning of acclimating the nation to a withdrawal from Iraq. But it was a bitter pill to swallow for many of us who hope and fight for a quicker end to this needless war. We are unhappy and upset and feel our leadership has abandoned us. But they really didn't. They fought a media fight in vain, to hopefully pave the way for a successful funding battle in September. That's only 4 months from now.

For the political calculus will swing in our favor as we move into the fall. Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats are going to be staring reelection in the face at that time. And there will no longer be an illusion of hope provided by the Surge. If it's successful, wonderful, start bringing the troops home. If it's not successful, then it's also time to start bringing the troops home.

It's hard to watch politics slow workings when people are dying. It seems so worthless and futile. And it is worthless and futile. But it's the way our system works.

I for one will not give up, I will continue to fight to end the war, I will continue to support my party, and I will continue to oppose the oppressive Bush regime.

[troubleinwinter]

7. Great post, fooj. Regrettable that you had to write this version instead of the original.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

8. ......

:kick: