The New Republic

But does that mean citizens should just stay home and shut the hell up? I have no sympathy for Obey and the Democrats. It is time to end the war and nobody really cares to hear excuses. He says he can't get the votes to end the war, but I remember last November. Seems there were more than a few votes to end the war then. Does he think we've changed our minds over the holidays? Bring them home now. Neil

- purcellneil

March 8, 2007 at 9:09pm

The DemocRAT party had no clue on how to deal with the war issue. Everbody screamed at them to come up with something, anything but the Republicans so screwed up that the Dem's didn't have do anything. Now the Dem's are stuck with the deer in headlights look. 2008 is going resolve on which group will be the most alienated the Religious Right or the anti-war Left. That doesn't bode well for liberals.

- Yminale

March 9, 2007 at 1:57am

on the Hill, and I remember Obey as being one of the smartest people there. He tries to cut through the BS, and has a steel trap for a memory. He can be combative, and has no patience for those who don't know what they're talking about. He and the rest of the Democratic leadership are doing their best, but they're in a difficult situation. They're trying to end a disastrous war, but do it in as non-disastrous a way as possible, i.e., not like Vietnam. They're motivated by self-interest, to be sure--they're scared of a repeat of the political repercussions of 1973-1975. But they're also trying to prevent further damage to the nation or a larger war in the Mid-East. That will take time, and the legislative and budget processes are often arcane, making it hard to communicate to the public what you're trying to do.

- Claudiusmarcellus

March 9, 2007 at 10:00am

but it's time to provide some leadership, set a tone here, explain what the eff they are doing. They have done no such thing and women like this are entitled to it. Yes, it's a tough job, if they can't be clear on their goals, while not attacking those they disagree with as idiots, then perhaps they should find another line of work.

- Wandreycer1

March 9, 2007 at 10:44am

I think Obey was frustrated with the woman and her ilk, whom he foolishly labeled "liberals." I can see where he would be frustrated with "peaceniks," which are liberals who put peace before all other liberal concerns. You don't have to be a hawk to know that you can't have unlimited faith in the trancendent and transformative power of the glorious word "Peace." However, this woman appears to be a typical Cindy Sheehan peacenik. Evertything was just fine till HER son got hurt. If the war had gone off as well as Bush wanted, she and her son might be more in line with Yminale above than the rest of us. If I were Obey, I wouldn't have given her the time of day.

- tenaciousd

March 9, 2007 at 10:50am

...is whether you want a compromised success or a glorious failure, legislatively speaking. Is it better to send legislation to the floor that is guaranteed to fail (e.g. a funding cutoff) or is it better to put together a compromise that will pass? I don't know what the answer is on this issue. Symbolism is not action, but is action even possible given such deep Republican denial?

- cleavet

March 9, 2007 at 11:05am

Awesome video. I like Obey. If you could clone him, I'd elect him in my district. Oh, well. The two people he's talking to remind me of the guy on Spinal Tap who keeps repeating, "But THIS one goes to eleven...." Or a kid who's dug a hole in the yard and wants to bring it indoors. I don't blame Obey for being pissed. He's right, they don't have the votes. That doesn't even slow down this woman, she doesn't want to hear it. It's gotta be a bitch when your friends are screwing you up more than your enemies.

- rysdale

March 9, 2007 at 11:28am

you are expected to get things done. Obey is making excuses, which is the privilege of the minority, not the majority. I say, hold his feet to the fire. If he doesn't like it, let someone else take the office. The people are waiting for Congress to act. Neil

- purcellneil

March 9, 2007 at 12:40pm