Jerry Nadler: "Only the first step"

by Matt Stoller, Tue Feb 13, 2007 at 11:55:29 AM EST

I like this.  Here's Jerry Nadler, on the floor.  

That is why this resolution must be only the first step.

In the Supplemental Budget we will consider next month, we should exercise the only real power we have - the Congressional power of the purse. We will not cut off the funds, and leave our troops defenseless before the enemy, as the demagogues would imply, but we should limit the use of the funds we provide to protecting the troops while they are in Iraq and to withdrawing them on a timetable mandated in the law. We should provide funds to rebuild the army and to raise our readiness levels, for diplomatic conferences in case there is any possibility of negotiating an end to the Iraqi civil war, and for economic reconstruction assistance, but above all, we must use the power of the purse to mandate a timetable to withdraw our troops from Iraq.

We must use the power the people have entrusted to us. The best way to protect our troops is to withdraw them from the middle of a civil war they cannot win, and that is not our fight.

Good job, Jerry!  Lots of progressive caucus members feel this way.  Of course, saying it on the House floor and blasting Bush is only the first step.  The next step is to publicly blast Democratic contenders in the Presidential race that won't use the power of the purse to protect our troops.

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Re: Jerry Nadler: "Only the first step"

Go Nadler.  

I want to see the Feingold bill and McGovern bill brought up for a vote.  We may not win yet, but a non-binding resolution does not win either.  We need to break this Republican talking point that cutting funding harms the troops.  It actually is the only to help the troops while Bush is President.  

We need to build support for the Feingold and McGovern bills.  Sounds like Nadler is on the right track.

by littafi 2007-02-13 12:07PM | 0 recs
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Re: Jerry Nadler: "Only the first step"

Great speech

by SteveWFP 2007-02-13 01:15PM | 0 recs
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Blindingly clear

that no one will cut any funds for any troops in Iraq.

Why do big-time reporters keep asking Dems if they will cut funds, but not ask Repub's why they never funded them well in the first place?

by zappatero 2007-02-13 01:17PM | 0 recs
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I disagree

Both Reps Nadler and Slaughter said that's where they're headed.

by SteveWFP 2007-02-13 01:35PM | 0 recs
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shoot, you should have heard

jim moran of virginia.  he just WENT OFF.

"this is the first step to end this war."  it was youtube worthy.

this is a wonderful debate.  every single democrat has just made me so proud.  carol darr (?) of california, jose serrano of the bronx, hinchey of NY, nadler, moran... they're all speaking with such clarity and righteousness.

yes indeed, let's make this the first step toward ending this war.

by annatopia 2007-02-13 02:20PM | 0 recs
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Re: Jerry Nadler: "Only the first step"

Jerry Nadler has plans for attaching this to the Supplemental budget, where Bush actually would have trouble vetoing it and under Senate rules you only need 51 votes to pass because it is a budget bill which cannot be filibustered.

His bill is both titled and structured beautifully.
It's called "Protect the Troops and Bring Them Home"  The funding is conditional on certain things. It supplies all the funding that the troops need to protect themselves (hopefully even better than they are now) while limiting the funding to protecting the troops, the logistics of bringing them home, some Iraqi reconstruction and toward diplomatic efforts.

There are other bills.  Jerry needs support from the netroots to make this bill possible in terms of attaching it to the supplemental budget.  

 

by debcoop 2007-02-13 03:36PM | 0 recs

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