No fast U.S. shift on Iraq if Democrats win: Dean

[ECH1969]

Even if Democrats win control of Congress in elections next week, an immediate change of course in Iraq policy is unlikely, the party's chairman said on Sunday.

"The president will still be in charge of foreign policy and the military ... I don't imagine we're going to be able to force the president to reverse his course," he told the CBS "Face the Nation" program.

"But we will put some pressure on him to have some benchmarks, some timetables and a real plan other than stay the course," he added.

With control of the U.S. Congress at stake in the November 7 elections and sectarian violence raging in Iraq, Democrats and some Republicans have urged President Bush to change his strategy on the war.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/29/AR2006102900326.html

[Deja Q]

1. I agree.

Time and thought has to be put into all of this, especially if Dems win. Otherwise we'd lose in 2008... but the bigger issues are the ones the Repubs will likely lose for; and all of those are Domestic issues.

I've re-thought my previous whining that Dems were the "me too" party on defense. May have been more to it than meets the eye.

[madfloridian]

2. Here's a partial transcript and video from FTN

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/505

Emphasized special forces. Made it clear Bush would be in charge still, but they might be able to influence.

I liked his arguments on this. Putting the onus on Bush.

[Nite Owl]

3. He is right

there won't be big changes on much. He will learn about how to veto a bill pretty quickly and it has to be known that he is the one that won't cooperate. All they can do is stop his agenda, stop the bleeding, until we can get a Dem President in '08. It will let people know what is possible and who is being the obstructionists.