WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR DEMOCRATIC FRESHMEN ON THAT LITTLE OLD WAR ISSUE?

Virtually all the Democrats "oppose" escalation. Of course, at this point, there are resolutions "opposing" escalation from Mitch "My Bitch" McConnell, John McCain, John Boehner... everyone short of Joe Lieberman has some kind of cockamamie resolution. The gold standards in the House, though, are H.J. RES.18 (John Murtha's bill to redeploy U.S. forces from Iraq) and H.R.508, Lynn Woolsey's bill to end the war. Neither of these bills is nonbinding and neither is symbolic. These are the real deal.

Murtha's bill now has 98 co-sponsors, all Democrats of course. Among the 98 there are 8 freshmen. First to sign on was Iraq War vet Patrick Murphy (PA-08). I'm very excited that Steve Cohen (TN-09), a progressive who replaced reactionary Harold Ford, Jr, when Ford gave up the seat to make a botched and miserable run for the open Senate seat last year, has also come aboard (yesterday). Ford is violently pro-escalation, of course (a la Lieberman) so it is great to have Cohen sideing with the people instead of with Big Business and Beltway Insiders. The other Democratic freshmen who feel Murtha's approach is strong enough for them to become a co-sponsor are Mazie Hirono (HI-02)-- who also replaced a reactionary, Case, who gave up the seat in a failed bid to get in the Senate-- John Yarmuth (KY-03), Dave Loebsack (IA-02), Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), Yvette Clark (NY-11), and Peter Welch (VT-AL).

Woolsey's bill is even stronger and more willing to treat Bush like the imcomptent he's proven himself to be. There are 28 cosponsors, also all Democrats. Only 4 freshmen have been brave enough to sign on: Steve Cohen (TN-09), Keith Ellison (MN-05), Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and Blue America hero Jerry McNerney (CA-11).