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Obey's Responsibility on Iraq

KagroX writes a great post on what Rep. David Obey (D-WI) needs to do now in the Iraq supplemental funding bill conference:

With the bill now heading into a House-Senate conference, and rumors floating that the Senate conferees may seek to strip the much-vaunted timelines and withdrawal triggers from the bill, it seems to me that Chairman Obey has a unique obligation to insure that the teeth of the bill -- such as they are -- remain in the final conference report.

Nobody, as far as I can recall, was ever pressing Congress to "make it illegal to proceed with the war." While that certainly would be a welcome development, it's an innovation created and touted by Obey, and offered unsolicited by him as a defense against the "idiot liberals" who were working to end the war but were, in his mind, "screwing it up."

To each question the activists posed, Obey's every answer was premised on the same objection: "That's not how it works."

Well, now we're seeing how it does work, Mr. Obey. . . . The burden to make sure it remains "illegal to proceed with the war," at least according to the terms of the bill that emerges from conference, is yours.

KagroX's point is entirely missed by MYDD's Chris Bowers, who had no qualms in whipping the Out of Iraq Caucus to vote for the incredibly flawed House bill, but now objects to KagroX pressuring Obey to hold the line. No one doubts that Obey is a great Congressman dedicated to ending the war. What is at issue is whether Obey's stated strategy will work. As Kagro says, for it to work, the binding timeline, such as it is, must survive conference. If Obey's argument meant anything, then Rep. Obey has to fight hard in the conference to keep binding timelines in the bill. That is KagroX's point. How can that be quarreled with?

It can be quarreled with when you are insistent on cheering certain Democrats no matter what. I have written about this strange regression by the "Netroots" before:

I have a nit to pick with Atrios and the Netroots generally. . . .what are "large numbers of Democrats" doing to get us out Atrios? Lemme guess, 'they don't have the votes' to overcome veto/filibuster/Blue Dogs.

But as I have explained, there is a way to do it without dealing with filibusters and vetoes. And Dems will not do THAT.

It is easy to criticize, Lord knows I did it for years and years, Bush, the GOP, the Wise Men, et al., but the Dems deserve some criticsim too on this.

But we get instead from the Left blogs are nasty attacks on Idiot Liberals:

Anyhow, she is doing the best she can walking those halls of power and corruption day in and day out.

“The best she can” is not going to cut it. I believe she is doing more harm than good.

The point is the Dem leadership has not tried very hard to get the 218 votes.

Bulls[p]it. Jerrold Nadler — who for years has been one of the staunchest and most reliably progressive members of Congress — believes that if the Dems push too far they’ll get nothing. If Nadler says this, you can take it to the bank.Pelosi is pushing a proposal that she believes has a shot at passage. The proposal may be imperfect, but it’s way better than nothing.

Both of you — go home. Please. Let people who know what’s actually going on walk the halls of power and corruption.

(Bolding mine.)

Let the people who know what's going on tell us what to do? Like they told us to go to war in Iraq? And who are these people pray tell Mahablog? The DLC says the same about you.

I thought this Netroots thing was about PEOPLE POWER. Apparently it is just a new version of sit down and shut up. What a terrible thing to write.

And Chris Bowers now tells KagroX to sit down and shut up. That is today's "Netroots." It is not doing the job on Iraq.

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  • Display: Sort:
    We have never been at war with Oceania! (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by andgarden on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 03:50:22 PM EST
    Bowers really is as clueless as Danby, isn't he?

    Well (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 03:51:35 PM EST
    Today at least.

    Parent
    Members of the Conference Committee? (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Ben Masel on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 03:56:41 PM EST
    Appointed yet?

    Who gets picked will tell us a lot about Pelosi's priorities.

    They have been picked (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 04:01:44 PM EST
    I know that both Hoyer and Obey have been chosen.

    So you tell me, what are her priorities?

    Parent

    Spinach. (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Ben Masel on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 06:26:22 PM EST
    The conferees (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 04:19:29 PM EST
    You win. n/t (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by andgarden on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 04:20:17 PM EST
    Always (none / 0) (#8)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 04:23:06 PM EST
    BTW (none / 0) (#9)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 04:24:21 PM EST
    Since then, Hoyer has replaced Price.

    Parent
    What I can find: (none / 0) (#6)
    by andgarden on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 04:19:58 PM EST
    APPOINTMENT OF CONFEREES ON H.R. 1591, U.S. TROOP READINESS, VETERANS' HEALTH AND IRAQ ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, 2007 -- (House of Representatives - April 19, 2007):
    The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the Chair appoints the following conferees: Mr. Obey, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Murtha, Mr. Visclosky, Mrs. Lowey, Messrs. Price of North Carolina, DICKS, EDWARDS, MOLLOHAN, OLVER, SERRANO, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Messrs. CLYBURN, LEWIS of California, YOUNG of Florida, ROGERS of Kentucky, WOLF, WALSH, HOBSON, KNOLLENBERG, KINGSTON, FRELINGHUYSEN, and WICKER.
    I can't link because the THOMAS search system is stupid.

    Parent
    Ok, here's a question (none / 0) (#11)
    by andgarden on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 04:26:16 PM EST
    Why did the Senate appoint Johnson? He's obviously in no position to attend.

    Parent
    Did they? (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 04:30:06 PM EST
    And he is awful on Iraq to boot.

    Parent
    Yep, from your link: (none / 0) (#16)
    by andgarden on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 04:33:08 PM EST
    3/29/2007:
    Senate appointed conferee(s) Byrd; Inouye; Leahy; Harkin; Mikulski; Kohl; Murray; Dorgan; Feinstein; Durbin; Johnson; Landrieu; Reed; Lautenberg; Nelson NE; Cochran; Stevens; Specter; Domenici; Bond; Shelby; Gregg; Bennett; Craig; Hutchison; Brownback; Allard; Alexander; Grassley.


    Parent
    what's the basis for selecting conferees? (none / 0) (#20)
    by annefrank on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 05:15:29 PM EST
    Speaker, majority and minority leaders (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by Ben Masel on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 05:22:55 PM EST
    Normally includes Chairs and Ranking Members of relevent Committees and Subcomittees.

    In this case the bill has Ag as well as Defense appropriations, we see a tilt towards farm states.

    Parent

    Chaiur of (none / 0) (#22)
    by Ben Masel on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 06:21:57 PM EST
    Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies

    Every other Dem from this Subcommittee made it onto the Conference  Committee.

    Inouye, Landrieu, Byrd, Murray, Reed, Nelson. Also the top 3 Repubs, Hutchinson, Craig, Brownback.

    Parent

    CQ link (none / 0) (#24)
    by Ben Masel on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 08:19:02 PM EST
    "And the War Drags On." (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Ben Masel on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 04:32:49 PM EST
    Country Joe McDonald, 1967

    Sit down, shut up, open your wallets, clap louder. (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by mentaldebris on Sat Apr 21, 2007 at 01:21:06 AM EST
    Hell and gone from crashing the gate, innit?

    Beyond disappointing.

    Per Congressional Quarterly, Wed night (1.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Ben Masel on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 04:26:09 PM EST
    "There were some operating assumptions that were spelled out," said a Democratic aide who was briefed on an April 17 meeting with Pelosi, members of her "kitchen cabinet" and of the Out of Iraq Caucus. "The committee will likely keep the [House] readiness components but take the Senate language on goals."

    So no deadlines for withdrawal

    Asked if he could support the Senate's language on goals, House Appropriations Chairman David R. Obey, D-Wis., said, "I could vote for anything that contributes to putting the pressure on Bush."

    ditto.


    BTW (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 05:03:15 PM EST
    This is EXACTLY what I predicted and why I thought the Out of Iraq Caucus could have saved the day.

    What happens if Bush does NOT veto? And if he does? What comes out then?

    They negotitated against themselves.

    This is headed for disaster for the Dems.

    Parent

    You and me both. (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by Ben Masel on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 05:14:46 PM EST
    Bush will sign. I beat yoou to that prediction.

    Parent
    Ditto? (none / 0) (#12)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 04:29:37 PM EST
    Cavein?

    So the big fight for the House bill was about what?

    Parent

    Senate Conferees (none / 0) (#14)
    by Ben Masel on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 04:30:17 PM EST
    Byrd; Inouye; Leahy; Harkin; Mikulski; Kohl; Murray; Dorgan; Feinstein; Durbin; Johnson; Landrieu; Reed; Lautenberg; Nelson NE; Cochran; Stevens; Specter; Domenici; Bond; Shelby; Gregg; Bennett; Craig; Hutchison; Brownback; Allard; Alexander;

    Senate selections (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by Ben Masel on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 04:42:48 PM EST
    Harkin, Kohl, Dorgan, Johnson, and Nelson are there to ensure the Ag pork remains. Feinstein too, for the spinach.

    Landrieu and Cochran for the Katrina funding.

    Parent

    Friggin frackin fruck (none / 0) (#26)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Apr 21, 2007 at 11:21:14 AM EST
    This is getting ridiculous with Netroots bloggers being such a bunch pathetic whining wussies, I'm just sick of it......so sick of it.  We have the most grossly negligent military action in our country's history on our doorstep. Do the right thing people and make history or stiffle it and live a stiffled life and stay far away from me.  I have read so many things from people about what Bush and friends did wrong before we had political soldiers on our side to do something with.  We have our political troops now, we have no reason to whine....only a reason to DO now and we choose to DO THIS?  Iraq is very personal for me.  I have skin in the game.  This is sickening to watch!