Chris Dodd has been making the most sense on Pakistan

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

I was delighted that Dodd had the guts/common-sense to say that pressing ahead with elections is a bad idea.

Ideally, the efficacy of political violence should be minimized. You shouldn't be able to win elections by assassinating the opposition the week before the vote.

If Pakistan had a centuries long tradition of stable elections on fixed dates, like we do, then continuity would mean everything.

But since they do not, the fact that speedy elections advantages everyone but the PPP, who just lost their only major candidate, such elections would not be stabilizing at all. In fact, they would be boycotted by everyone except the Musharef bloc!

The fascination with elections, as opposed to democratic institutions, is one of the stupidest aspects of the Bush foreign policy. Everywhere we have encouraged elections in the muslim world the result has been some form of civil war... Iraq, Gaza, Lebanon.

Elections are not magic. Napoleon relied on elections as a tool to minimize democracy... whenever he had a conflict with the legislature he would hold a plebiscite. Simple majoritarian expression is not a bar against tyranny.

Absent sturdy democratic institutions elections are just a way to lock people into ethnic and religious divides without the moderating institutions that are needed to make politics something other than a form of war.

(Would the American people vote tomorrow, by a simple majority, to eliminate congress or the supreme court or the first amendment? Who knows? Given the right news cycle, they might. Fortunately they can't.)

Our top priority in Pakistan (assuming we have a say, which I'm not sure we do, or even should) should be re-instating a legitimate Supreme Court. Not rushing to hold boycotted elections that will rubber-stamp Musharef while providing a catalyst for class and/or sectarian violence. (Who will say those elections are even fair? Musharef's hand-picked supreme court?)

[TwilightGardener]

1. Dodd did very well on this issue. I'm surprised he and Biden differed so much.

[ellacott]

6. Dodd has been distinguishing himself from Biden

He strongly disagreed with the Bankruptcy Bill and brought it up in some forums.

I was surprised at his opinion to postpone elections but I do understand what he's saying.

[DemKR]

2. Richardson also has been showing leadership

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

7. Well, if crazy leadership counts...

I have always liked Richardson pretty well and his heart is in the right place, but his calling on Musharef to resign is kind of short-sighted and reactive.

To be replaced by who? Bhutto? D'oh!

Calling for the leader of a nuclear power to be replaced by god-knows-who is bizarre. Seriously, who would take over? We know it would be someone from the Army... just a change at the top of a military dictatorship with every likelihood of things getting worse.

Aren't the upcoming elections parliamentary elections? The Presidential election was a little while ago... the one that led to the supreme court being replaced. Musharef cannot be replaced by a new elected President any time soon, and if he was, it could be a really awful President. Musharef is no picnic, but we really could do a lot worse.

Everyone is tossing stuff out on the campaign trail to look pro-active when the right answer is to lock-down the situation as much as possible until things are quieter and clearer.

We created the current situation by being pro-active, re-introducing Bhutto to the Pakistani political scene because Condi thought it would be stabilizing. And it didn't work out that way. So maybe we need to chill out and see whether the PPP can reorganize as a broad party, rather than a dynastic party, and see what happens.

[question everything]

3. Agree, and posted about on GD

and have been thinking - but posted only yesterday - that we cannot afford to have a candidate with no experience in foreign affairs and they are (in alphabetical order): Biden, Clinton, Todd and Richardson, though I was disappointed with Richardson's comments yesterday.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. Indeed. This is an excellent point

and shows just how well Dodd has his act together.

[MethuenProgressive]

5. Richardson's made bold and thoughtful points regarding Pakistan too:

Bill Richardson's 12/28 speech "Pakistan and American Values" (full text)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3897785
Richardson Says Pakistan's Future Depends on Renewed Commitment to Democracy
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3897765

Dodd/Richardson?
Richardson/Dodd?
Man, what a fantastic ticket that would be!

[jillan]

8. Dodd is the #2 Dem on the SFRC.

The man knows what he is talking about. He did an excellent job on Countdown last nite.

I really like Dodd, and would have no problem voting for him.
Why he is polling at the bottom is beyond me.

[ellacott]

9. The biggest frustration is Biden and Dodd polling so low

It also bothers me when the pundits(and people here) talk about the most experienced and they leave these two names off the list.

[jillan]

11. I know. The Bidenites talk about this alot.

[question everything]

10. Here is the video

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x79217

[gateley]

14. Thank you! Here's another video which gives additional info on Pakistan.

The more I hear -- Biden, Dodd, and this person (former Bush person who quit and is opposed to his policies), I'm beginning to understand the enormity of this problem and that there is no easy, perfect solution.

I think you'll find this video interesting, too.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x79214

[CrispyQ]

12. I like Dodd & would have no problem voting for him.

What he says here about the election makes sense.

[gateley]

13. What about Sharif's party? Is that an option?

[rucky]

15. He already said that he's boycotting a Jan. 8th election.

and specifically mentioned restoring the Supreme Court as the first order of business.

[gateley]

16. That's right -- I know that it's Musharraf's supreme court that is keeping

him from running.

[creeksneakers2]

17. Dodd is right about this.

I'd add to Dodd's observation that if there is a delay a definite make up date should be announced at the same time, so delay doesn't turn into dismissal.

Dodd is the best candidate. Too bad he gets so little attention.