In the American system that only applies to a President who is unwilling to risk not being re-elected, and even that only applies during the first term. (Leaving aside the possibility of assassination, or the more remote possibility of impeachment.)

Yes, but they all want that next four years, so most of their behavior in the first four years has that goal in mind.


I flatly do not agree that 'Democrats could have ended' this Iraq nonsense that easily. They DID introduce several bills..which were voted down. It takes **MORE** votes than they had to cut off funding OR simply withdraw. If they DID manage to cut off funding, the missing funds would not have 'simply' caused everyone to hop on a plane home...it would have compromised the safety of the troops during attempted withdrawal. Many experts have said so....you don't change it by just stating the opposite.

You're totally wrong about it taking votes to make it happen. It requires no votes whatever. As I said before all that would be required would be for Pelosi to refuse to allow a bill on funding the war to be brought to a vote, or for the chairman of the appropriations committee (I think I said 'Budget' before, but I'm pretty sure that's incorrect) to refuse a bill on funding the war to leave committee. It's as simple as that.

However, in the absence of the will to do this on the part of those two people, if enough members of Congress simply refused to vote for a bill to fund the war, it wouldn't pass. It is not necessary to introduce any bills to end the war or to get any votes at all to approve ending the war. Anyone who tries to make you believe that a bill and/or votes is necessary is lying to you. And I would suggest that they are lying to you because they don't want the war to end, and they need to mislead the voters to keep the war going.


Interesting story, LH. You're right, there are definitely people who don't serve in government it for the money and prestige. But anyone who gets anywhere near close to the presidency in this country knows he or she has to play the game by rules established by people who are not the majority of the voters in this country.