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2/2: So What Now?

February 2, 2007 12:33 PM | |

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The latest language in the bipartisan Iraq resolution seems to have finally pushed the netroots into open opposition with Dem leaders. Encouraged by the departure of Sens. Russ Feingold and Chris Dodd more and more lefty bloggers are calling on Dems to reject the current compromise in favor of some binding legislation. Feingold, in particular, is embracing the anti-war support of the netroots writing in a Daily Kos diary: "We have the support of a majority of Americans behind us. We should recognize that and act on it. Thank you again. I really appreciate the encouragement." Netroots opinion on Dem cong. action on Iraq has been volatile this week, but it is unclear what further steps they're willing to take to influence Dem leadership on the issue.

IRAQ: One Step Forward Or Two Steps Back?

Netroots patience for Dem action on Iraq policy is being severely tested by the compromises necessary to gather bi-partisan support for the Warner-Levin Iraq resolution. Daily Kos' BarbinMD links to WaPo coverage of the negotiations and writes: "It seems that this compromise means the Senate is ceding their "power of the purse," and refusing to criticize the Bush plan, saying only that they "disagree" with it ... Where exactly is the compromise? Are they going for the Lieberman vote?"

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas calls the Warner-Levin effort "pathetic" and praises Sens. Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Chris Dodd (D-CT) for opting out of "that silly game." Kos asks: "What's the point of a useless amendment? Is Reid really that desperate to give Jon Stewart more material for the Daily Show?"

Feingold even has a diary up on Daily Kos titled "Warner/Levin Resolution a Mistake" where he writes: "Unfortunately, the new Warner-Levin resolution that many Democrats are pushing is flawed and unacceptable. It rejects the surge, but it also misunderstands the situation in Iraq and endorses the President's underlying approach. It's basically a back-door authorization of the President's misguided policies, and passing it would be a big mistake."

While few on the left are thrilled with the resolution, some are defending the effort. The New Donkey's Ed Kilgore seems "some real political value" in the resolution "so long as it does not completely foreclose additional steps if Bush continues to stubbornly plug ahead." Matt Yglesias also refuses to condemn the bill calling the resolution "kabuki, though, it's good kabuki."

The Carpetbagger Report's Steve Benen worries the Iraq debate will get "confusing" as Dem '08ers "try and one-up each other on who wants to fight the White House most." Benen also notes that those worried about Dodd out flanking them on the left can "get a little cover from MoveOn.org, which has endorsed the Warner-Levin compromise resolution." Benen quotes MoveOn: "We are pleased the Senate is headed to a bipartisan vote disagreeing with President Bush's escalation in Iraq. This is an important first step towards Congress blocking the escalation and stopping the war."

For plenty on the left, however, the resolution is a step backward, not forward. Under the header, "From supporting redeployment to barely opposing escalation - a tragic Senate story," David Sirota writes at Working for Change: "the Democratic caucus was almost fully unified 6 months ago in support of ending the war completely, now the Democratic caucus is billing as a "step forward" a resolution that merely (and meekly) criticizes expanding the war. That's a legislative retreat, and one that comes after an anti-war election mandate. I wish I could say I was surprised, but I'm not."

Talk Left's Big Tent Democrat also is unhappy with the resolution and address Yglesias directly: "No Matt, it is horrible kabuki. We do not need phony Republican repudiation of Bush, Matt. We do not need a phony nonbinding resolution that embraces the Bush narrative on the Iraq Debacle. ... This proposal is possibly the worst that could have been conceived for the Democrats in every way."

Big Tent then invokes Dem support for the Iraq war in '02 to further attack supporters of the current resolution: "Feingold notes that the Senate was in Democratic hands in 2002 when in an act of craven stupidity, a majority of Democrats voted for the disgraced AUMF for Iraq. ... This travesty resulted from the type of attitude exhibited by Yglesias and Kilgore. They were both wrong in 2002 and they repeat their mistakes now. This fear of a principled stand - the chronic disease of Democrats, is exactly what threatens the potential Dem realignment."

Talking Points Memo's Paul Kiel did some checking and reports that netroots favorite Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) is "inclined to support" the resolution.

IRAQ II: Does That Make Us Crazy?

While recent amendments to the Warner-Levin resolution have some on the right saying good things about the bill (RedState's Erick Erickson is particularly impressed with Article 4 which he says would block troop reduction in Iraq), there are no signs that any big name bloggers are ready to back it. Townhall's Hugh Hewitt links to a DNC Chair Howard Deandescription of the bill as "very, very positive" since it gets a "significant numbers of Republicans to repudiate the Republican president's policy" and comments: "Contact republican leadership in the House and Senate and tell them its not what they think they are doing that matters, it is what the world understands them to be doing."

The Corner's Yuval Levin asks: "If on the day after the 2006 election someone had told you that a few months into 2007 we would be increasing troop levels in Iraq and committing to a somewhat more aggressive strategy with a somewhat more aggressive commander, and would be set to enact a 2007 budget that largely stuck to 06 spending levels with a few adjustments and no earmarks, wouldn't you have thought he was crazy?"

Righty bloggers are getting behind Sen. John McCain's 'benchmark' resolution. Captain's Quarters writes: "McCain obviously wants to offer a way for the Senate to demonstrate its frustration, but directed in such a way that it does not unduly damage the mission. Its benchmarks are reasonable, and open to definition to some extent." Even Hugh Hewitt is on board: "I have read the text of the new draft resolution ... and while it retains the absurd "benchmarks" language, it is generally sound and not defeatist in the least. It does not threaten explicitly or by implication to cut and run on the Iraqis if the battle for the country's future remains difficult."

Hewitt then advises House GOPers: "The House Republicans should follow the example of the Senate GOP and get the Boehner resolution reformed to reflect the national security seriousness of the GOP."

Also at Townhall, claiming that "almost every major Democrat was for a surge before they were against it" Matt Lewis serves up pre- and post- Dem quotes on troop levels including:

  • Richard Durbin Then: "If We Need Initially Some Troops In Baghdad, For Example, To Quiet The Situation, Make It More Peaceful So That Our Soldiers Start Coming Home, Then I Would Accept It." (Ed Tibbetts, "Durbin Speaks Out On Troops For Iraq," Quad-City Times (IL), 12/21/06)
  • Richard Durbin Now: ""The Proposed Surge In Troops 'Is A Sad, Ominous Echo Of Something We've Lived Through In This Country,' Said Durbin." (Dori Meinert, "Durbin, Obama Oppose Proposed Surge In Troops To Iraq," Copley News Service, 01/05/07)

DEM FIELD: Who Wants To Play 20 Questions?

Preparing for a 2/3 interview with John Edwards and Barack Obama, Jonathan Singer asks MyDD readers for possible questions. Suggestions for both include:

CLINTON: This Ain't The Love Connection

Iraq continues to be a stumbling block between Hillary Clinton and online love. MyDD's Matt Stoller labels HRC's Hotlineinterview response to a question on Iraq "more of that John Kerry 2004 Iraq nonsense" and adds: "If she wanted to stop the war, she'd say she wants to withdraw troops and push Congress and the President to do that. But she says that it's the President's responsibility to stop the war. Which means that the war will go on."

Further towards the center, Kausfiles also takes issue with Clinton's assertion that Iraq is Bush's "responsibility," citing a different HRC quote: "I really resent it. ... This was his decision to go to war; he went with an ill-conceived plan, an incompetently executed strategy, and we should expect him to extricate our country from this before he leaves office." Kaus responds: "Imagine if Eisenhower had said that about Korea. This is the presidency, not a dream date! Presidents are supposed to deal with the problems the face. "

Two items on The Huffington Post argue that gender will not be an obstacle in HRC's path to the WH. David Berreby links to a Finnish study showing "female respondents tend to favor female candidates, while male respondents tend to vote equally often for men and women." HuffPo's Robert Guttman adds: "In 2008 if Senator Clinton doesn't win it won't be because she is a woman. The American voter has joined the 21st century and is looking beyond whether the candidate is a man or woman. The 2008 voter is looking for a president who won't polarize the country and who has answers to war and peace and keeping the economy stable and growing."

DODD: A Voice To Be Heard

Reporting from the DNC winter meetings, MyDD's Jonathan Singer offers quick thoughts on Chris Dodd: "He came off as a credible candidate, which he needed to do at this meeting. What's more, he showed that he can speak with fire, a skill that many lose in the Senate, particularly after three decades in the chamber. Dodd's speech ran longer than needed, however, and he will no doubt need to trim some fat from his stump speech and rearrange some pasts. But if he does so, he has the opportunity to make his voice heard within the party."

EDWARDS: Leftward Ho!

John Edwards choice of Pandagon's Amanda Marcotte and Shakespeare's Sister's Melissa McEwan as Blogmaster and Netroots Coordinator continues to draw blogger reaction. MyDD's Jerome Armstrong describes the move as "ground-breaking" since the pair represent a "whole new blogosphere" that embraces "single-issue groups" ahead of a DailyKos-founder-Markos Moulitsas/Crashing The Gate "big tent" approach. Armstrong adds: "What this move symbolizes in the blogosphere is that Edwards team understands how to move to the left on the issues. The early move by Edwards to consolidate the liberal wing of the Democratic party at the beginning is very smart. It's how McGovern won the 1972 Democratic primary."

RedState's Moe Lane offers a lengthy well reasoned critique of the Marcotte hiring.

Finally, Blue Hampshire reports on an Edwards stop in Hannover, NH, at Dartmouth: "He called for a phased withdrawal of troops from Iraq, (maintaining that by staying in Iraq we are enabling the Iraqis to fight among themselves and not to take responsibility for their own government). He finds the non binding resolutions in Congress as fluff and a waste of time. He talked up the environment and universal health care. ... None of his positions surprised me nor did they particularly excite me-- I find his Iraq position to be simplistic. However, he did show some candor that is not like any candidate I have seen for a long time."

GORE: If Only Some Blogger Had The Resources At His Disposal To Create A 'Draft Gore' Movement

If Al Gore does join the WH '08 race, DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas will be among his first supporters. Kos explains that "one reason I'm not jumping aboard any 2008 bandwagons is that I'll wait as long as necessary to see if Gore will jump in."

Kos reasons that Gore's name ID allows him to wait till mid-10/07 when the Nobel prize will be announced. Kos writes: "He would instantly raise gobs of cash (I'd bet on tens of millions in the first 24 hours) and become the media sensation of the winter. He would instantly make hundreds of millions spent by his primary opponents obsolete. Talent would flock to him, decimating the staffs of his opponents. Heck, if done right, a serious "Draft Gore" movement could have the shell of an infrastructure in place for him to adopt.

OBAMA: We Should All Be So Lucky

Lefty bloggers are also beginning to comment on Barack Obama's more hands off approach to the community and the reviews are not all negative. On Obama's attending a "a 'Students For Barack Obama' Facebook rally" MyDD's Jerome Armstrong writes: "Obama is lucky to have this happening on his behalf, but he's smart to embrace and encourage the effort. Now, I've seen the extra-youth turnout models fall flat on their face in Iowa (with Dean), but Obama's appeal to the Millennial generation, as opposed to Edwards appeal to the ideological left of older more traditionally politically active generations, is unique and full of possibilities in the big-state primaries."

Blog P.I.'s Not Paul Begala argues Obama's online 'luck' may just be the residue of design: "What makes Obama different from other progressive politicians is that he doesn't just want to create and support progressive programs; he wants to mobilize the people to create their own. Now, isn't that what progressives are trying to do right now, build their own communities?"

GIULIANI: No Help From The Feds

Speculation about possible Rudy Giuliani weakness on guns continued at The Corner. Kathryn Jean Lopezreports she is still "getting e-mails from angry gun owners" upset with her suggestion Giuliani could skate on his past support of gun control. K-Lo also posts a reader's suggestion that Rudy embrace "strong federalist rhetoric" to avoid "his 'third rail' issues."

The suggestion was not warmly received. Jonah Goldbergadmits the position could work in theory but goes on to argue Giuliani's "G-man sensibility" forces him to run as "the can-do Republican" not a "won't-do-guy." Another K-Lo emailer notes bills like "People's Republic of California" efforts to ban semi-automatic weapons make a federalist approach impossible on guns.

In not unrelated news, Mystery Pollster's Mark Blumenthal quotes USA Todayanalysis showing that while Giuliani currently does well in polling of GOP voters, after being informed of his social positions, "One in five Republicans said his views would "rule him out as a candidate" they could support."

HUCKABEE: The Golden Boy

IA's Krusty Konservative reports Mike Huckabee "couldn't have been a better introduction" on Steve Deace's WHO radio program after Deace played "five minutes of McCain flip flops on a number issues including gay marriage, abortion, and ended it with McCain's quote from his 2000 kampaign when he called Rat Robertson and Jerry Falwell 'agents of intolerance.'" KK comments: "Huckabee has problems of his own, including taxes, immigration, and electability, but when it comes to the core beliefs of Iowa's social konservatives he is golden."

THOUGHT FOR TOMORROW: The Blogometer Will Be Celebrating Blogroll Amnesty Day

On 1/14 Atrios told readers: "One problem with having a blog for a long time is that you're not inclined to delete people from your blogroll, which means that it eventually grows so large that you aren't very inclined to add people to it either. ... Long ago I decided that my blogroll should consist of people I'm interested in reading. But, over time those interests change and blogrolls become rather static. ... So I'm declaring February 3 Blogroll Amnesty Day - the day people are free to make adjustments to their blogrolls and ignore any complaints about those adjustments. ... Personally, I'm going to delete my blogroll entirely and then build it back up, adding links to people I actually read."

LEST WE FORGET: Resistance Is Futile

Reacting to Aqua Teen Hunger Force's take over of Boston, MA, Professor Bainbridge writes:

On a serious note, this episode reflects the triumph of capitalism. These two yahoos look exactly like the sort of neo-hippie/anarchists that trashed Seattle back in 1999 and still engage in various forms of counter-culture street theater to this day. Yet, these guys do so not to advance a cause, but to make money advertising a stupid cartoon show on behalf of a major media corporation. The message these two thus are sending to all their counter-culture buddies on behalf of capitalist corporations is: "resistance is futile." As such, in an odd way, these guys validate my life's work: They confirm that corporations rule the world and are therefore a worthy subject of study.