Dean Andal: first look
Finally a
CA-11 GOP candidate who understands foreign policy...
Not only are Islamic extremists a security threat to the United States, so are the Chinese and Russians, Andal said. In the face of such threats, he said Congress needs to increase its intelligence budget as well as the military's.
Asked whether the United States should withdraw its troops from Iraq, Andal said after the luncheon that candidates and incumbents shouldn't "pontificate" about military strategy and give away secrets to Iraq. However, Andal admitted that no one is happy with the war's results.
Andal displays a masterful grasp of the threats we face, although he forgot Poland. And thank god he won't even utter a single word about Iraq else they get our secrets (and our lucky charms).
What a buffoon.
McNerney's moment
87 of McNerney's House colleagues
signed a letter where they pledged no new funding for escalation or continuance of the Iraq War but would fully fund safe withdrawal.
The text and co-signers of the letter are available at the link above. One of the more notable co-signers is Ellen Tauscher (D-Alamo).
McNerney failed to
sign a similar letter last July.
This is rubber-meets-the-road time for McNerney. If he won't sign this time, I think he owes an explanation. The letter is supposed to be publicly released next week.
Obey or Hoyer/Emmanuel?
Looks like McNerney will have to pick sides.
David Obey (D-WI) Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee said
an Iraq funding bill will not be released from his committee without a withdrawal date. He also says he wants a war tax.
Steny Hoyer (D-MD) the House Majority Leader, basically said
he's scared of a funding fight.
Rahm Emmanuel (D-IL) stumbled all over himself about ending the Iraq war on Real Time with Bill Maher the other night. Basically he said "we need a new president so we can bring the troops home". Give the
video a look (it is breathtakingly depressing).
So the question: Whose side will McNerney choose?
Answer: I have no idea but he has positioned himself to embrace either side.
On one hand McNerney says "I want a date certain withdrawal timeline" which leans toward supporting the Obey path. Also, he was pissed at the Dem leadership when the last Iraq supplemental was brought to a vote.
On the other hand McNerney keeps saying "we don't have the votes" which can be interpreted as: "I don't want the political fallout of a funding fight" and/or "let's punt the Iraq War to the next president".
I can only hope McNerney will be willing to go the mat to end the war. It's what he was elected to do and it's the right thing to do.
