I Was For the War Before I Was Against It - Take 2

Senators Robert Byrd and Hillary Clinton propose to reverse congressional authorization for the war.

From the NY Times: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton proposed Thursday that Congress repeal the authority it gave President Bush in 2002 to invade Iraq, injecting presidential politics into the Congressional debate over financing the war.

Mrs. Clinton's proposal brings her full circle on Iraq - she supported the war measure five years ago - and it sharpens her own political positioning at a time when Democrats are vying to confront the White House.

Former Senator John Edwards has repudiated his vote for the war. After Mr. Byrd and Mrs. Clinton announced their plan, Mr. Edwards quickly put out a statement urging Congress to focus on withdrawing troops and not revoking the 2002 authorization.

“Congress should stand its ground and not back down to him,” Mr. Edwards said. “They should send him the same bill he just vetoed, one that supports our troops, ends the war and brings them home.”

Mrs. Clinton pointedly noted that she voted in 2002 to put a one-year limit on Mr. Bush’s war authority, an effort led by Mr. Byrd that failed. Mr. Edwards had opposed that limit.

Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, who was not in Congress at the time of the vote, cites his consistent opposition to the war. Mr. Obama issued a statement on Thursday evening indicating that he would support the effort by Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Byrd.

Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, beating Mrs. Clinton to the punch, called on Congress on Tuesday to withdraw authorization and develop a schedule for the rapid withdrawal of troops.

In February, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, another presidential contender, also raised the prospect of rewriting the authorization to give American forces a much more limited role in Iraq, but that approach ran into resistance from Democrats who said it could be perceived as giving new authority for the war.

"It is time to reverse the failed policies of President Bush and to end this war as soon as possible," Mrs. Clinton said as she joined Senator Robert C. Byrd, Democrat of West Virginia, in calling for a vote to end the authority as of Oct. 11, the fifth anniversary of the original vote.

Obama and FAIR!s Mike Carberry in Iowa City on Earth Day

Environmental issues and the stump speech from IC. Mike Carberry is the current chair of FAIR! Johnson County's Progressive organization and a member of the Sierra Club.

Obama Nation Out in Force in Iowa City

Greetings from the Midsection.

Barack Obama was looking fit, rested and may have the vote of one member of this household based on a handshake on the meet and greet line on his way to the stage. His staff threw the crowd t-shirts and a little girl put one on and looked adorable (of course, she took it off quickly because it was too hot--that or she is an uncommitted voter--at least for the next 13 years).

"He has a good handshake," said my equal half. As far as more "savvy" voters, it is hard to say, other than if you make up your mind based on turning out a crowd, Obama scored in Iowa City with what looked like about 4,000 to 5,000 people (local press reports 10,000 showed--I think they got those numbers from the Obama folks). I was impressed by the machine that he has geared up already--product placement, volunteer sign-up, cattle herding, gesticulators, and security are TIGHT.

As for me, I was looking for the meat of where he stands, particularly about the environment. His record as a Senator has not been sterling on this front*, although he, John McCain, and Joe Lieberman revived a bill that was defeated in the senate two years ago that would reduce global warming by 2% a year by 2020 and he and Hillary Clinton introduced the Healthy Communities Act of 2005, which was also defeated. The Chicago Tribune adds this recap.

On the whole, I heard what I expected from a stump speech, good ideas, not too many specifics. I contend that the Obama campaign needs to get the specifics on the table--as John Edwards' has already done.

Good energy, lots of photogs snapping away, standard fair crowd rallying music.

One big "boo" to Mayor (for now) Ross Wilburn, the Johnson County Obama chair, who introduced Obama. He recently signed on to the national mayor's agreement for global warming--an important symbolic gesture, but didn't sign on to another important symbolic gesture--a resolution to stop the war in 2002. People in the progressive community don't forget that he said it was because it was not a local issue.

* Important Update: Thanks to a comment to this entry, I gratefully and respectfully amend this post - The League of Conservation Voters (The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is the independent political voice for the environment.), gave its Obama highest ratings for his environmental stands in 2006 100% and 95% in 2005

Hillary Clinton in 2002-2006 (71%, 95%, 92%, 88%)

John Edwards in 2001-2004: 32% (he missed 5 votes), 68% (missed 9 votes), 88%, and 88%

Joe Biden in 2001-2006: 100%, 90%, 92%, 96%, and 88%

Chris Dodd in 2001-2006 : 100%, 90%, 88%, 80%, and 88%

Dennis Kucinich 2002-2006: 100%, 100%, 90%, 95%, and 90%

Obama in Iowa City for Earth Day 4/22

I like John Edwards. My wife likes Barack Obama. We are going to hear Barack Obama today speak at an Earth Day event on the Pentacrest on the U of I campus. I'd be very happy for an Obama/Edwards, Edwards/Obama ticket--otherwise the next year is going to be tough at home...

My wife is going with me to the next John Edwards event--family unity is very important to the Edwards' and to myself and my equal half.

Guess Who's Coming for Lunch or the Circus is Coming to Town

Busy day (4/3) in Eastern Iowa.













- Hillary Clinton comes a callin' in Iowa City for a conversation - 250 people expected When: Noon to 2 p.m. today. • Where: Quality Inn & Suites Highlander Conference Center, 2525 N. Dodge St. • Tickets: To reserve a spot for the free event, call 471-8712 or sign up online at www.hillaryclinton.com.

- John and Elizabeth Edwards roll into Cedar Rapids for a Town Hall Meeting - 5:45 pm Prairie High School 401 76th Avenue SW Cedar Rapids, Iowa For more information, email iowa@johnedwards.com or call 515-288-0766

Worth Noting:

Johnson County Supervisor Rod Sullivan throws his support to Barack Obama

"I have decided to endorse Illinois Senator Barack Obama in the 2008 Iowa Caucuses. A few reasons:

·     Obama has walked the walk, serving as a community organizer in Chicago
in some of the poorest neighborhoods in America.
·     Obama led the fight to stop putting prisoners to death in Illinois.
·     Obama has a lifetime AFL-CIO voting record of better than 95%.
·     Most importantly, Obama had the MORAL COURAGE and COMMON SENSE to oppose the Iraq war BEFORE it started. That is real leadership!

 I am not so naïve as to think that my endorsement matters much. Picking winners has not exactly been a strength, but I have tried to stay true to my core values. If nothing else, they found someone willing to talk with anyone who is interested in Senator Obama.    Barack Obama is the right leader for our country at this critical time.Please join me in caucusing for Obama!"

Dave Loebsack and the Awkward Twins

Can You Feel the Love?