Dem Hopefuls Skewer Bush, Not Each Other

2008 Contenders Focus Attacks At Nevada Appearance On Bush's Iraq Plan, Rather Than Rivals

(AP)  Democratic presidential hopefuls launched serial attacks against President Bush's Iraq war policy on Wednesday and generally steered clear of criticizing one another in the first joint appearance of the young 2008 campaign for the White House.

"Time has run out on what President Bush has tried to do in Iraq," said New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who touted her legislation to begin a troop withdrawal within 90 days of her bill becoming law but declined to apologize for her vote to authorize the war in 2002.

Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut brushed aside a suggestion from some administration allies that the withdrawal of troops from Iraq would create chaos. "How much more chaos could there be in Baghdad than exists today?" he asked to applause from the audience at a union-sponsored event near the Nevada state capitol.

Dodd said it was foolish to believe that "17,000 troops in a city of 6 million are going to sort out" the situation. Bush has announced a buildup in combat forces, with about 17,000 additional Army troops deploying to Baghdad to try and clamp down on sectarian violence.

Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack struck a similar note. "I want to challenge every single one of you and ask a simple question, what have you done today? What have you done today to end this war in Iraq?

"It needs to be ended now. Not six days from now, not six months from now. Not six years from now. It needs to be ended now, and it is up to you," he said.

Dodd was the first candidate to speak at the event, which was sponsored by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union. Eight candidates attended — only Illinois Sen. Barack Obama skipped the event — underscoring Nevada's newfound importance in the 2008 nominating campaign. The state will hold caucuses on Jan. 19, five days after the lead-off Iowa caucuses and presumably only a few days before New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary.

In addition to Clinton, Dodd and Vilsack, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel vied for support.

The program called for each contenders to make brief opening comments, then field three questions from moderator George Stephanopoulos of ABC News — a former aide in Bill Clinton's White House.

The Republican National Committee used the forum to try to put its own spin on the candidates, releasing "research documents" containing unflattering critiques of each of the Democrats hours before the event.

In recent years, Democrats have sensed political opportunity in the mountain West, a fast-growing region long dominated by Republicans. Nevada, with its large Hispanic population and influential labor unions, was considered a battleground state in 2004, and President Bush won the state by just 3 percentage points.

Wednesday's forum — the first major candidates forum of the election — was promoted by the state's senior senator, Majority Leader Harry Reid, to draw attention to the state's early caucus.

The party's 2008 nominating convention will be in Denver, the capital of a mountain state where Democrats won the governor's office and picked up a congressional seat in 2006.

By boosting Nevada's role, Democrats also hoped to add some ethnic diversity to a nominating process that for years has heavily favored Iowa and New Hampshire, both of which are overwhelmingly white.

"We are really excited about Nevada playing such a big part, and it will be great to have all the candidates here," said state Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, who narrowly lost her race for governor last year. Titus was hosting several of the candidates Wednesday morning at her office in the state capitol for meet-and-greet sessions with other legislators.

Reid, who helped push for Nevada's new prominence in the 2008 calendar, said he hasn't decided to endorse anyone in a field that features several of his Senate colleagues. But his son, former state Democratic Chairman Rory Reid, has signed on as Clinton's Nevada chairman.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Reid acknowledged that his son's role is "not the easiest thing to say" to the other candidates.

"I can't put numbers on who's No. 1, No. 2, who's going to win. I'm going to stay neutral on this," Reid said.

[themartyred]

the IRAQ QUAGMIRE OCCUPATION MUST END!!

SUPPORT THIS SITE PLEASE -

cafepress.com/warisprofitable

[scott4261]

Many have the mistaken notion that the South is populated with a majority of rednecks who hate g a y s and abortion. That they all have guns in their trucks and that they all vote Republican. And they are all supporting the war in Iraq. The huge mistake we Democrats in the South have made all these years is to allow conservatives to take over our party with this flag-waving divisive nonsense.

I live in Arkansas, a state that is actually more "purple" than "blue" or "red." Just look at our congressional delegation. My point is those on the right and on FOX news (and even CNN and MSNBC sometimes) try to make this about US and THEM. What they fail to realize is that there IS ONLY US! One country!

[yadumbards]

perhaps someone would be so kind as to point out to these brainiacs that Bush ISN'T RUNNING!!!

Can't they just please come up with an original idea? even better a GOOD original idea! That would be amazing.

Scott4261, if this bunch is truly our best hope, we are all standing knee deep in a field of manure.

[yadumbards]

perhaps someone would be so kind as to point out to these brainiacs that Bush ISN'T RUNNING!!!

Can't they just please come up with an original idea? even better a GOOD original idea! That would be amazing.

Scott4261, if this bunch is truly our best hope, we are all standing knee deep in a field of manure.

[yadumbards]

perhaps someone would be so kind as to point out to these brainiacs that Bush ISN'T RUNNING!!!

Can't they just please come up with an original idea? even better a GOOD original idea! That would be amazing.

Scott4261, if this bunch is truly our best hope, we are all standing knee deep in a field of manure.

[yadumbards]

perhaps someone would be so kind as to point out to these brainiacs that Bush ISN'T RUNNING!!!

Can't they just please come up with an original idea? even better a GOOD original idea! That would be amazing.

Scott4261, if this bunch is truly our best hope, we are all standing knee deep in a field of manure.

[yadumbards]

perhaps someone would be so kind as to point out to these brainiacs that Bush ISN'T RUNNING!!!

Can't they just please come up with an original idea? even better a GOOD original idea! That would be amazing.

[yadumbards]

perhaps someone would be so kind as to point out to these brainiacs that Bush ISN'T RUNNING!!!

Can't they just please come up with an original idea? even better a GOOD original idea! That would be amazing.

[feelfree1]

Re: "but declined to apologize for her vote to authorize the war in 2002"

Now that Lieberman has bailed, Hillary has become the Democrat's version of miserable failure.

[zootallures2]

What about Ron Paul? Why do we always have to choose between crooks and lunatics? It's 2007, grow up! These candidates have all the brains of two five year olds fighting over the blocks in kindergarten class. Just like the rest of the loonies trying to rule the planet.

[j-whitman]

We also know today, this administration has been basing thier terrorism decisions on contrived statistics ---- Jail these idiots.

[dallison7]

The Republican National Committee used the forum to try to put its own spin on the candidates, releasing "research documents" containing unflattering critiques of each of the Democrats hours before the event.


I certainly wouldn't expect anything less from the republican party. Their campaign strategy for the past several years has been 'Politics of Personal Destruction'. If you can't beat 'em, swiftboat 'em.

[scott4261]

The surge is NOT going to work, FARTKNOCKER, and the best hope for America is going to come from this field of candidates.

[getcentered]

Please, someone tell where the CENTRIST Republicans are?

Many Americans today have been enlightened by the two wars we find ourselves involved. One war, the "war on terrorism", finds its main battleground in Afghanistan, and it is a war that costs lives and money but the majority of Americans support. Liberals, Democrats, Republicans, Conservatives, most don't have a problem with us kicking down the doors of members of the Taliban.

When talking about the war in Iraq the parties have much difference. Democrats say that the public and congress was mislead to justify the war in Iraq and that the Bush Administration no longer deserves autonomy in situations where US service men and women's lives are on the line. Based on the results of the last Congressional elections, most Americans see a problem with GOP/Republicans; at least in the way they make decisions about the use of our military.

So why is it that in the GOP/Republican party there are no dissenters, no independent thinkers, no moderates? Where are the real conservatives who would laugh at how conservatively the current Republican party has been spending taxes, and creating big government? Has the Republican Party lost its identity? Can the ideology of the GOP be so easily summed up in Karl Rove talking points like %u201Csupport this and support that%u201D, and angry rhetoric like %u201Cliberals are traitors%u201D?

Hello centrist Republicans! Anybody out there?