Vote on Iraq Again and Again

Over in Iraq, our troops get up every day and risk their lives in the middle of an Iraqi civil war. They have to do their job, no matter what the risk, and no matter what the cost. They do what they are asked to do...and so should Congress. Congress's job right now should be to bring our troops home safely, and we can't turn away from this issue just because it's tough going. The only way we will ever get our troops out is by putting constant pressure on supporters of this disastrous war. Let's make them vote again and again, so that they have to go back home and explain why they keep voting to keep our troops in Iraq. When they feel the heat for their vote, that's when they will change their vote, and that's how we will bring our troops home.

The message from the voters last November was clear -- safely redeploy our troops out of Iraq. Telling ourselves "we don't have the votes now, so what's the point" doesn't cut it. I understand that we may not get to 67 or 60 or even 50 votes on Feingold-Reid right now. But remember, when I first proposed that Congress use its constitutional power of the purse to end the war, support was scarce at best. Now, the majority of Senate Democrats, including our leadership and presidential candidates, are firm supporters. If we give in to the defeatist "we don't have the votes" attitude, we're playing right into the hands of the president and supporters of his war who cannot wait for the day they don't have to talk about Iraq. If supporters of this war are going to vote to keep our troops in a situation that is hurting our military as well as our national security, they should be prepared to defend it every day.

One question that I keep getting asked by reporters is why Democrats aren't reaching out to moderate Republicans to come up with some sort of consensus legislation. I also see stories criticizing the Democratic leadership for failing to bring in Republican moderates to pass legislation. My response is simple -- what good is getting 60 or 67 votes to pass a nonbinding Sense of the Senate resolution on Iraq that doesn't bring the troops home? When I hold my town hall meetings in Wisconsin, nobody is asking me to push for an empty compromise. They ask me how we can finally end this war. This summer we heard a growing chorus of Republicans call for change in Iraq but their words have proven to be empty. If members are serious about changing course in Iraq, Feingold-Reid is the surest way to do it.

The American people have been clear in what they want -- an end to this war. Last November, Democrats were saying all the right things but now it's time to follow through. I know some of my colleagues want to avoid any Iraq debate on the Defense appropriations bill. Sorry, but Iraq is the most important issue we face and the Senate must address it as we take up the Defense spending bill this week. That's why I will again be offering an amendment to set a deadline for bringing our troops home. I intend to do so today.

If those of us in Congress who want to end this war don't take every opportunity to push back against this administration, we will be just as responsible for keeping our troops in Iraq. Congress has got to stand up to this administration, and stand up to every phony argument it makes for keeping our troops in Iraq. In this debate, we need honesty, determination, and above all, persistence. With President Bush in office, we can't change things in Iraq if we don't vote to do so. If we lose that vote, we need to vote again and again and again. We have to hold war supporters' feet to the fire until they finally listen to the American people, recognize the damage this president's Iraq policy has done, and vote to safely redeploy our troops.

Comments

[Thurber]

Senator, Do you really think it's fair to tease us with your intelligence, courage, and conviction when you aren't running for President?

[mikeeforthetruth]

The "R"s (and I don"t mean Republicans) are trying to destroy our (human) way of life.

"The time to fight for freedom is the time when freedom is threatened, not the time freedom is destroyed, and for that later time is too late. Freedom is threatened now. The destruction of freedom is not far off. Now is the time to fight."
John Whiteside Parsons

truthseekerforum.com

[Garvagh]

The continued American effort to occupy Iraq is a waste of men and money. The Shia will remain in control of the central government, and it is not the business of the US to seek to determine which faction among the Shia emerges as the dominant force in the country. Iran has offered to help to provide stabity in Iraq so the US can withdraw with a minimum of difficulty. The Emir of Qatar has argued in favor of US withdrawal from Iraq, with Un peacekeepers (non-Arab) brought in to help maintain order. The US should renounce any intention of retaining military bases in Iraq.

[BenjitheWolfdog]

There are only two ways to end the Iraq occupation before Bush leaves office, 1. Impeach both Bush and Cheney and 2. Defund the military's ability to continue to operate in Iraq. There doesn't appear to be anything Bush and Co. can do to trigger an impeachment vote so the only thing left is to refuse to provide him with anymore money to continue the war. Its not rocket science but will take some backbone by the Democratic leadership.

[author1]

May I suggest a third way to end the war. A few days ago on NBC news was a story about skyrocketing obesity in France. Turns out the reason is the increasing availability of American fast food.

We could have a stealth weapon and not even know it. If we could get the insurgents strung out on Big Macs, fries, and cokes, they'll feel like doing nothing more than taking a nap.

[Tr0uBle]

If Democrats Can't or are not willing to defund this war and bring it to an end, Then the people should!

We can do this, we can come together as ONE NATION UNDER GOD and act for the good of all.

REFUSE TO PAY ANY TAXES FOR THE COMING TAX PERIOD! Demand this war come to an end, after all we as hard working americans are the ones funding this war.

Send Our Government A Strong Message. Tell Them We Will Not Have The Blood Of Our Own On Our Hands, And Will No Longer Pay For This Foolish War.

SAY NO TO TAXATION !

[PoliticalAnimal]

We love you, Russ! We don't want perfection, just honest attempts to bring change and to restore the U.S. Constitution. Keep the faith!

[ThomH]

But the question is: why does it take 60 votes or 67 votes to effect change in Iraq, when legislation---like restoring habeas corpus--- is time and again blocked with 43 or 44 votes?

The fact is every bill to fund the war in Iraq could be blocked by 41 votes against cloture.

So why aren't the opponents of staying in Iraq doing just that?

[NorCalNative]

Senator Feingold, I appreciate your attempts to bring our troops home from Iraq. However, at this point the cat's already out of the bag. The fortress-like U.S. embassy will soon be ready for U.S. forces and diplomats.

Every American must take responsibility for the bloodshed that "fuels" our standard of living. Somehow American society has felt entitled to use an over-considerable amount of the World's energy and supplies and not give a shit about the rest of the planet.

In order to support our engery-sucking lifestyle we are obligated to have troops stationed all around the planet. Americans perceive this as a birthright and I think this kind of thinking needs to be changed. As much as I agree with everything you have to say about troop withdrawal from Iraq, it is the greater threat we face from Corporations and their kin the Military-Industrial-Complex.

I want Democrats who understand that until we take the rights of citizens from corporations the U.S. will always be sucking on that teat.
If Corporations did not share the same rights would we then be able to begin to solve the problem of lobbying and campaign cash? That and impeachment would go a long way towards fixing what's wrong with the United States.

Is there political aversion to "serial" impeachment? Are Democrats afraid of international opinion? Republican's impeach for consensual sex but Democrats won't for war crimes? Who looks foolish here? I would say it would be the party that failed to impeach the war criminals. So, senator, if you really need something to occupy your time in Washington how about pushing, pushing, pushing impeachment? WHETHER YOU'VE GOT THE VOTES OR NOT!

[timbyrnes]

If congress will not use the power of the purse the people should. No taxation without representation. We ought to refuse to pay for this war by no longer paying our taxes.
Our congress will not defund it.
We ought to defund it ourselves by refusing to file income tax in 08 or quarterlies starting now.

[lisakaz]

I agree with this poster, Senator. And I am sick and tired of the "we lack the votes" garbage. If you all hung together, this WH could not get enough votes to get the money it wants. What is simpler than that. They would be compelled to work with you for money. What has this WH obtained by spying on Congress that there are so many mealymouths who cannot take action and stand up to the pro-war bullies?What happened to We the People?

It seems to me your leadership dropped the ball the minute they said impeachment was off the table. What are Dems afraid of really? How can Clinton lie about sex and be impeached whereas this administration has lied in bankrupting our treasury and there is no movement against it?

If I were in Speaker Pelosi's district, I would campaign for Cindy Sheehan. If your colleages are not part of the solution, they remain part of the problem. America cannot wait any longer.

[DaisyZimmerly]

I'm convinced that the Democratic leadership is completely infested with worthless DINO's. I look forward to the primaries and hopefully we will be able to get rid of some of these Bush enablers. I wish Feingold was running for President.

[rovezaleeker]

Thank you, Senator. You have been right all along. It's taken a long time for the majority of voters to accept. The fact that we have had seven years of pure fascist, dictatorial, dishonest, aloof, smirking, stupid bullshit coming out of Washington proves that sometimes the majority is not always right. I've heard many people muttering. I didn't vote for the idiot. I never voted for the bastard. I can't stand the moron. I didn't vote for him.

Well, somebody obviously did.

Senator, you are the one representative that no one will ever hear me say that I didn't vote for them. I am proud of every vote that I have cast for Russell Feingold. I'm sure that Paul Wellstone, Gaylord Nelson, Fightin' Bob and the rest of the boys are looking down and smiling knowing that you are carrying on an excellent Progressive fight on their behalf. We're proud of you here in northern Wisconsin. Keep up the good fight. Impeach the assholes! Make them eat cheese!

[cadawa]

Senator Feingold,
It's too bad there aren't more Democrats like you. Most of the members of the Senate don't even consider what the people that elected them want. Unfortunately, many of the top Democrats favor Bush's imperialistic policies.
Since Democrats control the agenda, Democrats have no need to count votes. All they need to do is to not allow any more spending bills to come to the floor.
The soldiers are paid from the Pentagon budget and the Pentagon has a plan for everything, including withdrawing our soldiers from Iraq.
It's the war profiteers who will suffer, not our soldiers.
All Democrats have to do is sit tight and wait for the war to wind down.

[puddytat]

I'm proud to have you as my Senator. It sort of balances out the terrible congressional representative I am stuck with (Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner). You listen and lead - he shills for partisan causes. Thanks for your excellent work and leadership. We need more like you who have the people's interests at heart.

[Drill]

This Bush, sending our troops into a civil war! This President has a lot to answer for!

Indict Bush Now!

[kevinabt]

I agree with the idea of ending the Iraq war, and this would be one possible way to do it. But I have a question about this which I would be surprised if you will answer.

What will happen to our economy and the US dollar when control of middle eastern oil is lost? For the last 30 or so years the US has been controlling the main supply of world oil primarily through military force. Once that is removed, why would anyone in the world want to pay for their oil in US dollars? Do you realize that our dollars will be worth radically less when they are not the only means of buying oil?

[ExRepublican]

"I have a question about this which I would be surprised if you will answer.
What will happen to our economy and the US dollar when control of middle eastern oil is lost?"
--------------------------

Tough. We'll pay the price, learn a painful lesson and survive.

Stay in Iraq/Iran/all over the damn world,and we will NOT survive (very well)

Such is life when you act like a nutjob, eh?

[vippy]

Vote 3rd party and really send these dead beats
a message!

[groucho]

Thank you Senator. Your courage is singular. I wish we had more politicians like you, but since we don't we are doomed.