DiFi seeing the light -- Feinstein Asks: “A War Worth Fighting?”

Dianne Feinstein Asks: “A War Worth Fighting?”
October 27th, 2005

On the heals of John Kerry’s speech at Georgetown University yesterday, Senator Dianne Feinstein writes a compelling and articulate OP/ED for the San Jose Mercury News on the Iraq War.

Feinstein reiterates many of the points made by John Kerry yesterday and suggests that, “America needs to change course.” Feinstein also calls for “Drawing down our troop strength,” in her OP/ED.

I congratulate Senator Feinstein for stepping forward and speaking up at time when our Democratic leaders need to make a strong stance against the current Bush administration policy in Iraq. John Kerry laid out a clear and concise plan yesterday for what needs to be done in Iraq. As Chris Bowers suggested yesterday on MYDD, “more Dem leaders need to follow Kerry’s lead.”

A War Worth Fighting?
Not If We Keep Placing Our Troops In The Bull’s-Eye Of An Insurgency That Shows No Signs Of Going Away
By Dianne Feinstein

The approval of a new constitution by the Iraqi people is welcome news. But it contrasts dramatically with the fact that U.S. troop fatalities have now surpassed 2,000.

MORE & LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=969

I guess it is good that she understands we need to draw down our troops strenght, but I think she misses the point totally.

It is about a withdrawal of all our troops, be it by stages as Kerry proposes or immediately, as some would want. It is about putting Bush in front of his responsibilities. And IMHO, the answer to the title question is already "No".

But I guess that, coming from her, this is a first step.

As for Kerry's proposal, I would like to point to two things:

1/ Tom Hayden's anwer in Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-hayden/support-for-kerry-speech_b_9632.html



2/Kerry's petition asking Bush for a plan or asking the Senate to take the lead.

http://www.johnkerry.com/petition/iraq.php

It's a toned downed version of what JK said yesterday, but she's definately on board. I have no doubt.

This is kind of disgusting-- the herd mentality is amazing. Kerry FINALLY admitted to having made a mistake-- which he promptly dismissed responsibility for by laying the blame on those who duped him-- and now the hitherto dem war mongers are emboldened to suggest that maybe the whole affair wasn't such a good idea after all, and maybe we ought to reconsider whether to eventually bring a few troops home. AARRGGHH!

and took his part of responsibility (except of course if you dont think Bush lied and he was the most guilty).

For the rest, I agree with KG that is is already something coming from DiFi. I just cant be excited by that.

She's my Senator (along with Boxer) and her office staffers in SF and DC have received a whole lot of telephone calls from me on this issue as well as a few others. Feinstein has blood on her hands afaic, and will never vote for her again.

I know a whole lot of others who won't either. Now a lot of voters in California who are not politically active, or have paid much attention to which Senators voted for what and when in the past five years, but I have to say that i think enough have to seriously have impacted her ability to make another run.

And that's likely what her coffers are telling her now, that a sea change has occurred (Thanks Cindy Sheehan and now these indictments, imo) that it won't be politically smart to be for something that is no longer popular.

So all these Dems that didn't understand what it means to STAND ON PRINCIPLE three years ago, I hope will pay for it in the next election.

The way our country has been so hijacked by American Style Taliban and Neo Fascists - it's going to be decades before we have a hope in reclaiming our democracy if ever, there is no Democratic Party anymore.

This is only a ONE PARTY system, with factions on the extreme and the so called "moderate" right.

I mean, who in the hell thought up of that lame slogan, "America, We Can Do Better" that the DP is now touting?

sheesh!

She's my senator and I don't like her either (don't know anyone who does)...but as you say in the beginning of your post, she's gotten a lot of calls from people like you and me. What is the result that we're looking for when we make these calls? I'm assuming it's that the person will support our position.

Her record is crap, and her current stance leaves a lot to be desired, but I would hope that the more she hears from us, the more she may come around. I've been very surprised by her lately, especially when she voted no on Roberts. Her response to my letter to her about it sounded like she was really taking heed to what we were saying. It could be that she's finally paying attention.

If we say that no matter what she does we'll never vote for her again, why should she pay attention to us? If we keep saying "do what I want! do what I want!" and then when the politician finally does, we shout, "too little too late, asshat!" what are we telling them? They're better off ignoring people like us if we aren't going to reward good behavior with our support.

At any rate, I have no plans to vote for her again, but if I see a lot more of the right decisions and less of the wrong before her seat comes up for a vote, I will have to seriously reconsider.

direction and it makes her popular. Sorry, but she's a day late and a dollar short. She wants your vote, not what is best for you.

Would you prefer she do nothing? I certainly wouldn't.

and doing a fair share of fighting for. People didn't pay attention months ago when she fought like hell for the her bill against Nuclear Bunker Busters. It got shot down, but the other day, Bushco took Nuclear Bunker Busters off the table. DiFi was right on that.

She was right on Roberts and no doubt would have been right on Miers. I'm sure most who are pissed at her because of her Iraq vote just don't pay attention when she does something good.

A lot of moderates here in CA support DiFi. I don't always agree with everything DiFi does either but I give her some credit for what she does do right and has in the past. She's always stood up for women's rights. **If** there were no Iraq, that would count for something in the eyes of some.

As for taking care of things here in CA, no doubt most don't know about what she's been spearheading regarding disaster preparedness here in CA and the lack of a permanent FEMA representative.

But hey, it's easier to complain about DiFi than pay attention to what good she's doing. There are no perfect politicians. If we don't give them credit when they do get something right, why the hell should they care when we complain?

Is if Dems want out of Iraq, we need them all to step up to the plate as Kerry did yesterday, as DiFi did today and we need to be supportive of that.