All dressed up and no one to compromise with

[babylonsister]

All dressed up and no one to compromise with
Posted September 19th, 2007 at 9:15 am

The last couple of weeks have been disappointing for opponents of the president’s war policy, at least as far as congressional action is concerned. While progressive activists have been hoping to see Democratic leaders fight aggressively for withdrawal, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid & Co. indicated that they’re willing to compromise with Senate Republicans on partial measures, even if that means funding the war without timetables.

The goal, as it was described, was to find measures that could change Bush’s policy, albeit mildly, with bipartisan support. Dems couldn’t get what they want, so they’d take what they could get.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the compromise — Republicans failed to show up. As a result, Reid is going back to Plan A.

Unable to garner enough Republican support, Senate Democratic leaders said yesterday that they are abandoning a bipartisan effort to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq by next spring.

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said that Democrats had been willing to make the troop withdrawal a “goal” in order to attract GOP support, but it never materialized. Instead, Reid will again push for a firm deadline, this time June 2008, along with a stronger effort at cutting off war funding.

“It’s all definite timelines,” Reid said.

I guess one could blame Reid for trying to reach out to Republicans in good faith, but I won’t. He thought there were enough reasonable GOP lawmakers to change a policy that doesn’t work, so he gave compromise a shot. Republicans apparently weren’t interested. Indeed, John McCain taunted Dems for even trying to be reasonable: “They’ve lost the momentum,” McCain said. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t want to sit down with Republicans and negotiate a different resolution.”

more...

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/12928.html#more-12928

[ananda]

1. Here are the ONLY options for anyone of any party.

No funding for Bush whatsoever.

Immediate impeachment.

[aquart]

3. To me, that's the only reasonable option.

It's all the other stuff that's extreme.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Have I mentioned how much I hate John McCain--the guy who taunts

Democrats now for wanting something so nefarious as to end bloodshed and destruction, but sucked up to us RELENTLESSLY in 2000?

[old guy]

4. This is something I have posted before.

Compromise with the repubs is not going to happen and the sooner the Dems realize it the better. The repubs have been using all sorts of congressional rules to get their way and to thwart progress on a number of issues. Like it or not, unless Dems start playing hardball and force the issues I'm afraid they are only going to dig the holes deeper. If these rules have been working against they should also be able to use them to work for them. Just saying.

[frylock]

5. p@wnage..

“They’ve lost the momentum,” McCain said. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t want to sit down with Republicans and negotiate a different resolution.”

hope that sits well with the milquetoast wing of the democratic party.