THE American people voted for change in ’06, specifically change in Iraq. So if the Dems want to act like Republicans and think that “winning elections is more important than leading,” they are sorely mistaken.
The Democrats will be replaced by an even more liberal strain in ’08 if change, real change, does not occur. Something in the mold of Congressman and Democratic presidential contender for ’08, Dennis Kucinich, who has promised to try to block funding the war. According to Kucinich, there is already $70 billion in the pipeline which could be used to bring home the troops now, so troop safety is not an issue.
What the Dems should additionally figure out is that the GOP will always blame them, rightly or wrongly, for national security failures. Therefore, they, the Democrats, might as well do the best possible job they can for two years and let the chips fall where they may.
Lastly, the Dems cannot be that “dumb” so as not to figure out that there will be “nothing left” by ’08 if they don’t check the runaway Bush White House.
The Republican victory in ’94 lasted for 12 years. But upon closer inspection, you will see that it really ended six years later in ’00 with the GOP losing Senate seats, leaving that chamber with an even split. (And presumably a VP Lieberman breaking the tie.) They, the Republicans, were able to convince (or if you prefer, fool) the American public for another six years but it was supposed to be OVER in 2000.
Now with Sen. Tim Johnson, D-Sd, stricken with illness, leaves the Senate with a possible 50-50 split, again, giving VP Dicken Cheney, this time, the tie-break. The prospect of 50 U.S. senators being SILENCED is real, leaving the Democratically-controlled House of Representatives no choice but to show their true liberal colors into forcing a long-awaited and necessary showdown with the White House on foreign and therefore domestic policy.

MATT PHILIPS
Mangilao, Guam