Interesting Knight Ridder article

Debate in Congress over Iraq war grows louder
BY STEVEN THOMMA, TIM FUNK AND JAMES KUHNHENN
Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON - If Congress ever turns against the war in Iraq, analysts may look back at this week as a turning point.


If Congress ever turns against the war in Iraq, analysts may look back at this week as a turning point.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., on Wednesday urged setting a May 15 deadline to withdraw U.S. troops unless Iraq forms a unity government, and even if Iraq does form a government, Kerry urged complete American withdrawal by year's end. His twin-deadline proposal makes the 2004 presidential nominee the most prominent Democrat pushing for early full withdrawal.

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Most leading Democrats have long worried that taking a stand against the war or calling for early withdrawal would label them weak on national security. But Kerry disdained such reservations when discussing his plan in an interview Wednesday with Knight Ridder. He first disclosed his proposal Wednesday in an opinion piece he wrote for The New York Times.

snip

Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., another potential 2008 presidential candidate, also has proposed a Dec. 31 deadline for withdrawal, but he lacks Kerry's stature as the party's most recent presidential nominee.



http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/14271812.htm

It might have been Howard Dean, or Reid, or Pelosi, or someone else, if they had been the kind of person to step up and lead this forcefully and persistently. It isn't only, in my opinion that he ran for president. It isn't about 2008. It's because that's the way he is--the natural leadership and strong convictions he has that make him someone "of that stature". Not every former candidate has been this way.