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5/9/2007
KOWTOWING TO KOS

Congratulations to the netnuts! They have achieved their goal of capturing a large segment of Congressional Democrats and turning them into a quivering mass of genuflecting cretins, unable to buck the will of their most passionate (and off balance) supporters because they’re too frightened of the consequences.

Apparently, House Democrats are prepared to limit funding for the war to two months, answering the call of their online masters to toe the line or risk the disapprobation of the Krazed Kossacks and the rest of the internet ruffians who make up the far left of the party.

For the last couple of weeks, the drumbeat from the netroots regarding the Iraq Supplemental has been about initiating a strategy known as “the short leash.” That is, limit the appropriation to two months and load it up with impossible demands on the Iraqi government to get moving on reform (reforms that won’t be initiated for two years much less two months) and then when the inevitable failure occurs, try the same gambit again with cutting off funding for the extra troops hoping that panicking Republican lawmakers will desert the President and join the Democrats in an attempt to save their political hides.

The strategy has the disadvantage of being transparently ridiculous – especially after Democratic lawmakers swore that they would forgo the limited appropriation path and stick with funding the troops through September. But that was before the netnuts began to ratchet up the pressure on their cowering minions in the House.

Here’s the #2 Democrat in the House just two weeks ago:

Many senators, as well as House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), say they’re not inclined to support a two-month supplemental.

“There are a lot of ideas being discussed, and Mr. Hoyer personally feels that at this time he doesn’t see that particular option moving forward,” said Hoyer spokeswoman Stacey Farnen Bernards.

(HT: Ed Morrissey)

The issue is apparently dead in the Senate with even Harry Reid seeing the stupidity of a two month appropriation.

Even if House Democrats seek to pass a short-term bill, the Senate isn’t yet on board.

“I don’t think that’s the best approach,” Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich) said Friday. “I think it’s too close to the end of the fiscal year for that.”

Senate Democratic aides also downplayed the chances that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) would agree to try to pass short-term funding bills for the war, noting that it likely would tie the Senate floor in knots and prevent Reid from bringing up other Democratic legislative priorities…

And the problem isn’t just Democratic “legislative priorities.” How about a severe disruption in the Department of Defense?

[Secretary of Defense] Gates told the panel that proposals for a short-term funding bill would be very disruptive and “have a huge impact” on contracts to repair and replace equipment. And if Congress votes in July to pull the plug on war funding, “I would have to shut down significant elements of the Department of Defense in August and September because I wouldn’t have the money to pay salaries.”

The fact that House Democrats have apparently become beholden to their most extreme supporters does not bode well for the party heading into 2008. One way or another, the war is going to be winding down by next spring as the Presidential primary season gets underway. And then what? Are Democrats on the Hill simply going to pat the netnuts on the head, thanking them for a job well done, and then expect them to go back to posting cat pictures on their blogs and trading recipes for meatloaf? Not hardly. Kos & Co. have real power now. They can taste it. And they are eager to exercise it.

What that means for the party’s agenda going into the 2008 campaign is unknown. But a lurch to the left, away from the carefully crafted positions of both Hillary and Obama to appeal to the center would almost certainly cause problems for the eventual candidate, giving the Republican ticket the opportunity to fall back on the time honored and very effective strategy of painting their Democratic opponent as an extreme liberal.

It’s proved a winning strategy in the past. And even in a Democratic year as 2008 is shaping up to be, it could prove the difference again.

By: Rick Moran at 5:45 pm
12 Responses to “KOWTOWING TO KOS”
  1. 1
    jpe Said:
    6:51 pm 

    I think you’re overemphasizing the power of the blogosphere.

  2. 2
    Joe Helgerson Said:
    9:12 pm 

    Why is it Rick,your side is always trying to give my fellow Democrats “sound” advice? You care about our political fortunes? Or is it you know the majority of Americans, not just the netroots, want us out of Iraq. Those same crazy leftist netroots supported conservative Democrat Jim Webb and Jon Tester. Rick, I come here, I go to Capt Ed, and Daily Kos. The Democratic netroots is not a monolith of “lefties”. I respect you, but get suspicious when you seem concerned with my parties fortunes.Breaking news: 11 congressional republicans had a closed door sit-down with Bush and company, bottom line:Mr. Bush you are no longer credible talking about Iraq. Rick, thats all anybody ever wanted from Bush, just tell us the truth. If its going to take 10 years and a trillion dollars, tell us.This country has lost confidence in Bush, thats never coming back. At least you like Captain Ed tell it like it is, thats why thie democrat keeps coming back.

  3. 3
    SteveAudio Said:
    11:06 pm 

    The fact that House Democrats have apparently become beholden to their most extreme supporters does not bode well for the party heading into 2008.

    Come on, this is silly.

    Gallup poll:

    “Do you favor or oppose the U.S. war in Iraq?”

    Favor Oppose Unsure
    % % %

    5/4-6/07 34 65 1

    4/10-12/07 32 66 2

    3/9-11/07 32 63 4

    1/11/07 31 67 2

    12/15-17/06 31 67 2

    That’s not any fringe, that the majority, not plurality, but majority, of the country.

  4. 4
    Carole Said:
    12:17 am 

    First, I listened to your broadcast with
    Mr. Lifson and enjoyed it. He is a very
    knowledgeable man and speaks well. As you
    do too, it seems.
    In respect to your latest post I would like
    to know why you do not mention M.Soros?
    He has spent millions to create Moveon and
    that is where the power will be, in my
    opinion. Time for that truth to be out?
    WSJ did that today and it was wonderful
    to see the truth being written there and
    on your blog, however they spoke clearly
    about his role.
    You want power? Be with Soros if the
    liberals win in 08’ and as he will be
    running the liberals who “owe” him, they
    better listen to him.

  5. 5
    Bill Faith Said:
    12:26 am 

    Halfway down the road to hell,
    In a shady meadow green,
    Are the souls of all dead troopers camped
    Near a good old-time canteen.
    And this eternal resting place
    Is known as Fiddler’s Green.
    -Author Unknown (via Sgt Hook)

    And there shall our warriors rejoice at the sight as the Dhimmicrats parade by in chains on the way to their eternal reward.

    I added an excerpt and link to my 2007.05.09 Dem Perfidy // Islamism Delenda Est Roundup

  6. 6
    Hankmeister Said:
    7:50 am 

    Polls run by the liberal media often turn out to be completely bogus because far more Democrats than Republicans get asked, polls often reflect the overwhelming media bias/narrative, and the questions are slanted or not comprehensive enough to reveal the true sentiments of Americans.

    The Moriah Group poll reveals a clear majority of Americans DO NOT want a premature withdrawal and in fact want to have a clear victory in Iraq.

    The The Investors Business Daily poll reflects essentially the same attitude among the majority of Americans.

  7. 7
    grognard Said:
    7:59 am 

    Ditto heads complaining about the Daily Kos, gotta love it. Here is a clue for both sides, the middle determines elections.

  8. 8
    Drongo Said:
    8:50 am 

    “The Moriah Group poll reveals a clear majority of Americans DO NOT want a premature withdrawal and in fact want to have a clear victory in Iraq.”

    Hell, I don’t want a premature withdrawl from Iraq, and I was a clear victory for peace and democracy.

    That means that I am in agreement with the clear majority of Americans. And yet I advocate immediate withdrawl from Iraq. These positions are consistent as I consider that time is long past to start withdrawing (so it is not premature) and I don’t think that there will ever be a clear victory in Iraq, much as I might want one.

    So much for that poll’s results meaning much.

    I’m increasingly coming to consider any and all polls worthless. I do feel the urge to quote Churchill here though, just because it is a great quote (and beats the “Lies, Damned lies and Statistics” one”);

    “He uses statistics as a drunk uses lamposts. For support rather than illumination.”

  9. 9
    Hankmeister Said:
    9:59 am 

    “He uses statistics as a drunk uses lamposts. For support rather than illumination.”

    Interesting you bring this up since I’ve used the quote numerous times myself to describe liberals who live by the polls and sometimes shape their lives by the polls. It’s interesting you didn’t apply it to those on your side of the aisle who throw out polling data which at best is just a snapshot of people’s perception of what happens to be the opinion du jour. Conservatives are typically adverse to public opinion polling data, except to point out the contradictory results … like I did.

    Drongo, you make my point, polls end up being push polls and I find myself having to answer in such a way that undercuts my more nuanced understanding of a complex issue. That’s why polls in general are useless.

    Liberal Democrats have been saying the war is “lost”. Well I maintain the war was won when we deposed Saddam’s regime and won in spectacular fashion. What hasn’t been won is the “peace” and therein lies the fly in the ointment because people have different view of what “peace” is. For instance, some would say even America isn’t at peace. Just look at the violence in our own culture, but in this case it’s not violence due to religious sectarianism. And I would argue that Iraq isn’t engaged in a civil war but rather a more narrow Islamic sectarian violence. The left and the liberal media have on no less than seven different occasion in the last three years declared civil war yet there is no nation-wide war being fought on any ideo-political grounds. What we’re seeing in Iraq is both home-grown and foreign jihadists continuing their war against the forces of democracy in Iraq. It has in a very real way become another front on the war on terror. That is where the enemies of liberty have chosen to fight and fight them we must.

    And when you read President Jack Kennedy’s (John Kennedy to you) inaugural address I can just see the gears turning in your head as you will probably engage in shallow rationalizations in hopes of gutting the very meaning of what this great American was conveying to a world burden by the chains of tyranny and despotism:

    The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.

    We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

    Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

    This much we pledge—and more.

    BTW, do you believe, as did the American Founders, “that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God”? If not then we’re not even on the same page when it comes to the rights of man and the obligations we Americans have to destroy the chains of slavery when it is within our power to do so to the mutual benefit of many peoples and nations.

  10. 10
    ajacksonian Said:
    9:59 am 

    Unfortunately the Democrats ran on an idea of being the anti-corruption house cleaners…

    So we now get some results. Pork. Legislation tied up between houses for ethics reform. More pork. Letting lobbyist ‘personal friends’ jet Congresscritters around for free. Even more pork. Funneling money to spouses who own companies. Lots more pork. Shady land deals with gangsters. Look, more pork! Acting like Neville Chamberlain and visiting tyrants and despots. Say, did I mention pork? Looking to get legislation to favor industries that a spouse is part of. Cartloads of pork. Not bothering to read their job description. Truckloads of pork. Visiting with terrorists associated with some of the worst organizations on the planet. A veritable porkfest.

    An anti-corruption platform should be dead simple to implement. Very easy. It addresses member behavior and following that up with very simple rules to abide by.

    If the Democrats can’t do that simple thing, then why should they be trusted on anything slightly more complex… say, getting the Dept. of Agriculture bill through without adding heaping helpings of pork? They aren’t trusted until they show that they know how to control themselves. They came in claiming to not be as bad as the other side.

    They are correct.

    They are worse.

  11. 11
    The Thunder Run Trackbacked With:
    10:00 am 

    Web Reconnaissance for 05/10/2007…

    A short recon of whatÂ’s out there that might draw your attention….

  12. 12
    Drongo Said:
    5:30 pm 

    “It’s interesting you didn’t apply it to those on your side of the aisle who throw out polling data which at best is just a snapshot of people’s perception of what happens to be the opinion du jour.”

    I do.

    “Well I maintain the war was won when we deposed Saddam’s regime and won in spectacular fashion.”

    Fair enough. I agree. Can we go home now?

    “For instance, some would say even America isn’t at peace.”

    Forgive me but I think that the comparison is simply obscene.

    “The left and the liberal media have on no less than seven different occasion in the last three years declared civil war yet there is no nation-wide war being fought on any ideo-political grounds. What we’re seeing in Iraq is both home-grown and foreign jihadists continuing their war against the forces of democracy in Iraq. It has in a very real way become another front on the war on terror. That is where the enemies of liberty have chosen to fight and fight them we must.”

    Oh for goodness sake. Most of the fighting in Iraq is about nationalism, collaboration, resistance to occupation, corruption or general thievery and power grabbing. Overlaid on that are the insane murderous urges of a bunch of 7th century idiots with modern weapons.

    “BTW, do you believe, as did the American Founders, “that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God”?”

    No, I am an atheist. As were at least some of your founders I believe.

    I also do not believe that rights come from the generosity of the state. I think that the powers of the state come from the consent of the governed and that the limits to those powers are the limits that the people define.

    “If not then we’re not even on the same page when it comes to the rights of man and the obligations we Americans have to destroy the chains of slavery when it is within our power to do so to the mutual benefit of many peoples and nations.”

    Messianic missions make poor strategic decisions inevitable. Still, it is a noble enterprise.

    On the subject of democracy, freedom and self determination, how do you feel about the Iraqi parliament’s recent vote in favour of US withdrawl?

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