Democratic Suckers

I know no polite way to put this: Progressive Democrats are being betrayed by Congressional Democrats and presidential candidates, who seem incapable of standing up against a continuation of the Iraq fiasco. They are suckers for the Republican ‘moving goal post’ trick.

The Democratic majority in Congress is the result of opposition to the war and the desire to move our troops out of Iraq as rapidly as their safety during withdrawal allows; yet Democrats wring their hands and whine that they are helpless to act in the face of a Republican presidency.

Sorry, but I’m underwhelmed. Consider the following U Tube piece submitted by David Sirota. Then, if your annoyance-and-despair level will allow it, consider these opening paragraphs from Paul Krugman’s column in Friday’s NY Times.

"Here's what will definitely happen when Gen. David Petraeus testifies before Congress next week: he'll assert that the surge has reduced violence in Iraq -- as long as you don't count Sunnis killed by Sunnis, Shiites killed by Shiites, Iraqis killed by car bombs and people shot in the front of the head.

"Here's what I'm afraid will happen: Democrats will look at Gen. Petraeus's uniform and medals and fall into their usual cringe. They won't ask hard questions out of fear that someone might accuse them of attacking the military. After the testimony, they'll desperately try to get Republicans to agree to a resolution that politely asks President Bush to maybe, possibly, withdraw some troops, if he feels like it."

Fortunately the entire column has bee posted at AlterNet.org. Read it here.

And for Keith Olbermann’s take on the ol’ move-the-goal-post strategy click here.

Does anyone really believe these Democrats are going to do anything even if they do win the presidency? May I sell you a bridge?