Scripted Answers for Democrats

Why did you support the war?

1. I supported the Executive Branch....
2. I supported the power and decision making of American Presidency, whatever action was needed, and gave the President my faith...
3. I did so because in situations where we must choose between only bad options, the brilliance of our founders in creating a powerful executive still shines through to this day...
4. In the wake of the unprecedented attack on America, granting such faith seemed a straightforward decision...
5. If the action was to be war, I accept responsibility for choosing it, just as each American whether one voted for a particular President or not, must accept ownership of his Presidency. He is my President as much as those who voted for him, and we own the decision together...
6. But time after time he has failed to answer my faith...
7. He failed to protect the explosives stores that continue to shatter American soldiers' limbs and lives...
8. He failed to maintain the Iraqi army or replace it with enough American troops, undermining all civil order...
9. He failed to provide enough equipment to protect American bodies...
10. He failed to protect the honor and future safety of our military, earned by the blood of generations, squandering it in one day with the torture at Abu Ghirab...
11. He failed to protect the goodwill of America, earned over centuries, by not really intending to repair the damage of our bombs, let alone succeeding in doing so...
12. He failed to protect the wealth of our grandchildren by mortgaging their economy to today's special interests...
13. Finally, he failed may faith in the most unimaginable measure, even after I granted him the power to prosecute the war against terrorism however he saw fit.... by failing to capture Osama Bin Laden. (What would the Republicans be asking, what vitriol would be spewing forth from their lips if the Democrats failed so miserably? I can't even imagine.)
14. He proved me wrong and I am sorry.

What is your plan for Iraq?

1. Through the worst strategic blunder in our history, the President created a situation in which there is no right answer...
2. So don't get sanctimonious and suggest that our lack of a magic solution has any bearing on the situation or the debate.
3. Irrespective of how we forewarn or otherwise negotiate the situation with the Iraqi government, we need to withdraw to the borders, and let the Iraqi people fight it out.
4. Whether any of us like it, the net result of President Bush's failed war is to have empowered the Iraqi people to fight openly for their interests. While this is commonly viewed for its negatives, it is partly a just thing whose violence is simply proportionate to how long it's been suppressed.
5. It is already proven that there will be no stopping it. Believing otherwise is monstrous self delusion... ignorance in the name of saving face. Continuing to spend American lives in its belief is irresponsible to the point of being impeachable.
6. The Shiites will win and the Sunnis will be left with whatever power remains at the time they realize that suicide bombing is not mathematically practical.