Weekly Update (11/16/07)

Democrats Continue to Push for End to Iraq War
On Wednesday, the House approved a bill which allocates $50 billion for short-term funding of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which includes deadlines and goals for troop withdrawal. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, leader of the House Out of Iraq Caucus, commented that, “While this bill is not perfect, it is the strongest Iraq bill to date.” The bill passed with a vote of 218-203, with all eight of DAPAC's endorsed members of Congress voting in favor.

The $50 billion allocated by this bill would fund the wars for approximately four months, and without it, the Pentagon would have to start dipping into its general budget. The bill requires that troop withdrawals begin 30 days after its enactment, and sets a goal for most combat troops being withdrawn by December 15, 2008. In addition, the bill requires that all detainees in US custody be interrogated under the standards laid out in the Army Field Manual, which is a significant measure aimed at preventing torture.

This bill will face a tougher fight in the Senate, where it will probably not receive the support needed to prevent a filibusterer. Regardless, Bush would most likely veto the bill if it arrives at his desk. In spite of this, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “Democrats are committed to bringing the American people what they deserve and demand: An end to President Bush's 10-year, trillion-dollar war.”

The struggle over this bill, and the many that have preceded it, illustrates why we need to elect a greater number of progressive Democrats to the House. Many of the Democrats currently serving want to set deadlines to end the Iraq war, but we have seen time and again that the votes to do so are not there. It seems likely that a Democrat will be elected president in 2008, and it is just as important that our Democratic candidates for Congress are elected, to ensure that the legislation reaching the president is progressive. All of DAPAC's endorsed candidates commit, in writing, to support legislation to end the war in Iraq when elected to Congress.

New Polls from Iowa and New Hampshire Show Presidential Races Still Undecided
This week, the New York Times and CBS News released polling data from Iowa and New Hampshire, taken among potential caucus-goers and primary-voters, showing the current standing of the presidential contenders. When the respondents who will be participating in the Democratic caucus or primary were asked which candidate they would vote for today, the results were:

Iowa

Clinton 25 %

Edwards 23

Obama 22

Richardson 12

Biden 4

Dodd 1

Kucinich 1

Undecided 11

New Hampshire

Clinton 37

Obama 22

Edwards 9

Richardson 6

Kucinich 5

Biden 2

Dodd 1

Undecided 13

In both Iowa and New Hampshire, only 48% indicated that they had made up their minds about their choice; in contrast, 51% in Iowa and 52% in New Hampshire said that it is still too early to be sure.

On the Republican side, the results were:

Iowa

Romney 27

Huckabee 21

Giuliani 15

Thompson 9

McCain 4

Paul 4

Tancredo 3

Hunter 2

Undecided 10

New Hampshire

Romney 34

McCain 16

Giuliani 16

Paul 8

Huckabee 6

Thompson 5

Undecided 11

Republican voters were less decided than the Democrats, with 57% in Iowa and 66% in New Hampshire answering that it is still too early to decide on their choice.