Reply #5: And to be a voice that consistently shows there is another way.

[TayTay]

That is one of the main functions of a party in the minority: point out that there is another way and that the ones in power now have options. I think Sen. Kerry does this rather well. He had an excellent plan for both helping to get the US troops out of Iraq and for helping the US come to terms with the overall conditions in the Middle East (and the greater Islamic world.)

Everyone knows the Dems don't have the power to do much right now. But they do have the power to challenge the prevailing argument. It is never listened to all at once, this sort of 'there is a better way' argument seeps in slowly. We shall see.

I am constantly amazed that DU wants to argue the particulars of any one Dem's plans for IRaq. They consistently miss the point. The Dems are relatively united on Iraq, they want change, they want the troops to get out and they want defined plans for the area. That is different from the present course of action.