Slog - Comments on U.S. Rep. Brian Baird http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird Brian Baird voted against the war and has voted to withdraw US troops from what has become a civil war--but last Friday the Washington state Dem came out against pulling US troops out or Iraq. What changed his mind? A trip to Iraq. Not every Democrat has come back from Iraq supporting a drawdown of U.S. forces in the coming months, as party leaders have advocated. Staking out positions that could complicate efforts to achieve party unity in September, a few Democratic lawmakers have returned expressing support for a continued troop presence. One of them, Rep. Brian Baird (Wash.), said... Copyright 2008 Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:21:37 -0800 Tue, 28 Aug 2007 01:37:46 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by annie I don't count, but I'm so there.

]]> annie http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c787484 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c787484 Politics Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:09:22 -0800 Comment by Original Andrew Aren't those Pentagon fellators telling us that the Army is "broken" and that we barely have enough troops to stay six more months? And aren't some of those troops on their fourth tours??

Did the Congressman explain where he's going to find more people to sign up to be Darth Cheney's Imperial Stormtroopers?

]]> Original Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c787490 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c787490 Politics Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:15:27 -0800 Comment by maxsolomon the only way to pacify iraq is to slaughter all residents & replace them with compliant third-world workers, just like they do in dubai.

the kurds get a pass from the genocide. for now.

yes, it is irony.

]]> maxsolomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c787526 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c787526 Politics Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:02:47 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Why are we still involved in this civil war?

It didn't work in Vietnam when we "escalated" and then didn't draw down. Just made it worse.

Time to leave is now.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c787573 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c787573 Politics Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:51:21 -0800 Comment by UNPAID BLOGGER Well at the very least this proves that Democrats can still form their own opinions, which is beyond anything we've seen out of a Republican

]]> UNPAID BLOGGER http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c787605 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c787605 Politics Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:17:32 -0800 Comment by perturbed that "accidental" pluralism is really frightening to me, anyone else? One shell-shocked senator and now staying in Iraq is a democratic stance?? One strong enough to "complicate party efforts to achieve unity"?? what the fuck?? Blatant propaganda much??

]]> perturbed http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c787825 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c787825 Politics Tue, 21 Aug 2007 23:07:50 -0800 Comment by Greig Warner It is hard to believe. As a loyal Democrat, union member, primary delegate and resident of Baird's district I can only say his position nauseates me. Oh sure just a few more hundred deaths. Just so they aren't Mr Baird's flesh and blood. Time to get an antiwar candidate here in SW Washington. I won't cast another vote for Baird!

]]> Greig Warner http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c789987 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c789987 Politics Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:16:02 -0800 Comment by christian The pluralism isn't necessarily inaccurate...as long as you take those "few" Democrats' words out of context. For example, in her recent speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Hilary Clinton criticized the Iraqi goverment and called for our troops to come home ASAP. Of course, what line grabs the headlines? "We've begun to change tactics in Iraq, and in some areas, particularly in Al Anbar province, IT'S WORKING" [caps lock mine].

The other "few" (or, more accurately, VERY few) Democrats include Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin and Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, who, even whilst conceding that the troop build up has produced measurable results, says that the Maliki government hasn't taken full advantage of the breathing room we've provided and still maintains his stance that the troop pull-out should begin within four months (http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070821/NATION/108210076/1001).

Baird himself concedes that we'll have to begin pulling out the troops eventually...albeit once they've been worn down to the bone (http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=bairdop24&date=20070824&query=iraq).

]]> christian http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c790660 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c790660 Politics Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:45:57 -0800 Comment by vypgwidbpn Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! rnjfpvncffgmqq

]]> vypgwidbpn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c791779 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/us_rep_brian_baird#c791779 Politics Tue, 28 Aug 2007 01:37:46 -0800