Democrats Diversity

I don't vote for Republicans all that much. I do tend to vote against Democrats a lot though. They have proven in the last 12 years to be a group that I have trouble understanding. Many, especially on the national level, seem to hate this country. But that "generalization" is not true of all. For example, one Democrat I could see myself voting for one day is Joseph Lieberman. Since you probably didn't see this story covered in the LameStream Media, here is what he said this week:

Sen. Joe Lieberman, fresh from a two-day visit to Iraq over the Thanksgiving holiday, said Monday he was hopeful U.S. forces could begin a "significant" withdrawal by the end of next year or in 2007.

"The country is now in reach of going from Saddam Hussein to self-government and, I'd add, self-protection," the Connecticut Democrat said in a conference call with reporters. "That would be a remarkable transformation … I saw real progress there." "If Iraqi forces continue to gain the confidence the American military sees there now … We will be able to draw down our forces," he said.

Lieberman has visited Iraq four times in 17 months. He said there are signs life is returning to normal, including a profusion of cell phones and satellite TV dishes on rooftops. "About two-thirds of the country is in really pretty good shape," he said, noting most attacks are in the so-called "Sunni Triangle" region. "Overall, I came back encouraged."

Lieberman said he hopes President Bush's speech Tuesday night will give a clearer picture to the American public of the progress being made in the war. "It's time for some details," said Lieberman. "He's gotta describe some of the progress that I saw there. It's gotta be realistic."
U.S. military officials told him they hope that by next year, two-thirds of Iraq's military will be able to carry the fight to insurgents with limited logistical support from U.S. forces. Lieberman said U.S. commanders had learned from their early mistakes and were successfully pursuing a "clear-hold-build" strategy against rebel forces.

He cautioned, however, that "prematurely" pulling out U.S. forces would jeopardize the progress made thus far.

What a remarkably reasonable and apparently honest assessment of our war effort. Most importantly, what a clear statement that Lieberman actaully wants the U.S. effort to be successful. Lieberman must be drinking the Kool-Aid though. Doesn't he know we are losing and about to fail miserably?

The real Democrat, Murtha, explains how bad things really are in Iraq.

Most U.S. troops will leave Iraq within a year, and the Army is "broken, worn out" and may not be able to meet future military threats to the country's security, Rep. John Murtha said.

"I predict he'll make it look like we're staying the course," Murtha said, referring to Bush. "Staying the course is not a policy."

Murtha, 73, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, expressed pessimism about Iraq's stability and said the Iraqis know who the insurgents are, but don't always share that information with U.S. troops. He said a civil war is likely because of ongoing factionalism among Sunni Arabs, and Kurds and Shiites.

Murtha doesn't just want us to leave. He wants us to admit defeat and leave in shame. He says our troops are not up to the task and are failures, despite the gains that Lieberman saw through his rose colored glases.

One thing is sure. If Murtha speaks for a party with about 50% of our population, we are doomed. If, on the other hand, Lieberman speaks for those people, we have a chance.

I'm hoping Lieberman is their man.