MyDD :: Reactions to the MoveOn Iraq Forum Pt.4: Richardson

Reactions to the MoveOn Iraq Forum Pt.4: Richardson

by James Gatz, Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 07:57:17 PM EST

I'm going to post a series of short diaries about the candidates' comments on MoveOn's Virtual Town Hall on Iraq.

I'm writing this fast as each of the candidates speak, with quick reactions to each one. I hope others feel free to use the comments space for their own reactions. As a disclaimer, I'm an Obama leaner, but I also tend to like Edwards and some of the others a lot.

Fourth up: Richardson

Richardson comes out for complete, 100% withdrawal, which suprises me. The mainstream (ie, except Kucinich) Democratic position has generally been to keep a smaller number in safe bases to strike at Al-Qaida camps. Interesting.

Richardson is arguing that complete withdrawal could give us diplomatic leverage to get others (principally the neighbors, it sounds like) to step in and help stabilize the country. He also seems to favor a federalist system, similar to Biden. I suppose that if anyone has the credibility to argue for a 100% diplomatic solution, it's Richardson.

He's asked a funding question, and makes it clear that he's for a timeline for withdrawal, presumably funded until a set date. Basically the mainstream position there.

What are everyone else's thoughts?

Tags: Richardson, Iraq, MoveOn (all tags)

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Surprised about his withdrawal (none / 0)

as well. 100% and he emphasized complete, ie not just combat troops. Didn't think he would be willing to go that far.

About the funding thing, I'm still not sure what people mean - he didn't really explain how he would withdraw. It doesnt make sense to give a deadline and then cut all funds on that deadline - it seems like to me there has to be some kind of gradual funding and troop cut like what Edwards has been talking about. I wish more candidates would elaborate more on how an actual withdrawal would work.

by okamichan13 on Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 08:06:30 PM EST

Re: Surprised about his withdrawal (none / 0)

Yeah, I wonder if the funding issue is just that it won't work - in other words, that Congress can only allocate funds or not allocate them, and thus really doesn't have the power to end the war gradually or allow the funds to only be used for certain missions, etc.

My unfortunate sense of the War Powers of Congress is that the real power congress had they gave up when the authorized the war in the first place, and now only the President can really control the ending.

by James Gatz on Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 08:46:21 PM EST
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