[adios]

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I will agree that there is not a single plan or even a reasonable harmonization of multiple plans that can be presented to the public as a single, coherent plan. But that is an unfair standard, in our system, to which to hold a party on this kind of issue. The truth is that there is as much disagreement on the right about what the administration is doing as there is on the left. But the president is actually in power so his is the only right-wing "plan", such as it is, that matters. Similarly, when the presidential race starts in 2008, then the "democratic" plan will emerge, Until then, there is no need for a single plan. It is sufficient to attempt to influence the administration to make its "plan" better.

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Do you honestly think the Dems are attempting to influence the plan to make it better? It just looks like they are rooting for it to fail which doesn't play real well.

Murtha is the only person to step up and offer a semi-coherent plan. The Dems need to start consolidating a plan of action for the GWOT. They need to look less giddy when something bad happens and they need to be encouraging when something good happens.

The problem is that they are afriad that if the cheer some good news from Iraq that is some how undermines their opposition to how the war was run/is being run. This couldn't be further from the truth. The Dems need to act like the adults in the situation and encourage the good news and breing contructive criticism where it is needed.

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I actually agree with you here for the most part. The simplest way to gain politically is to offer an alternative. I posted a link to the DNC platform in 2004 and what it states about the GWOT. A complete joke. IMO the major contributing factor to Kerry's defeat in 2004 was the lack of a coherent Iraqi strategy and to a lesser degree a lack of a coherent GWOT strategy (Swift Boat Veterans for Truth be damned [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]). Kerry literally snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

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Dems are looking really good with this whole wiretapping bit if they can not look like they are partisan attacking the president. They have a real good opportunity to be the good guys fighting for Americans.

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This remains to be seen. Hearing reports today that Clinton and of all people Carter basically did the same thing. I will try and find out more info on this.

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They are also looking real good with the Patriot Act filibuster. Schumer is pulling the correct card about looking reasonable but still opposing provisions in the act.

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I disagree totally. I think the Democrats are losing politically on this one.

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The Dems have a real opportunity to look like a viable opposition party to garner support in the next coming year.

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We'll see as I'm all for a viable opposition party. I agree with your implication that the Democratic party has to change course to become a viable opposition party.