What’s Walsh’s agenda?
I’m moving into Rep. James Walsh’s (R-25) district next week. I was initially happy I could move out of Rep. Louise Slaughter’s (D-28) district (and still am), but now I’m starting to wonder if my faith is a little misplaced…
(September 13, 2007) — Rep. James T. Walsh will return to Washington, D.C., on Monday to try to build support for his recent call to withdraw American troops from Iraq.
In a meeting Wednesday with the Democrat and Chronicle Editorial Board, Walsh disagreed with Gen. David H. Petraeus’ recommendation for a gradual troop reduction that would leave around 130,000 American troops in Iraq by next summer. Walsh called for a quicker withdrawal but offered no specifics on when, how fast, or in what numbers troops should leave.
“As long as we’re doing their hard work, there’s no pressure on them,” he said.
I’m not sure what his agenda is, here, in changing his view. As the article mentions, he’s the only one of the Rochester delegation — Tom Reynolds (R-26), Slaughter, and Randy Kuhl (R-29) — to break from their party’s position. Methinks I’d better pay close attention to the primary races next year.
Kirsten
September 13th, 2007 at 6:32 PM
His agenda?
Survival.
You would not believe the withering pressure members of the House are under from constituents to cut and run from Iraq! The mail from voters is overwhelmingly in favor of getting out immediately.
When they were back in their home districts for summer break, they all got an earful from very well organized folks back home letting them know in no uncertain terms that they better vote to abandon Iraq before the next election, or else!
If you believe that this would be a disaster, triggering the mother of all bloody civil wars and worse, you better write your congressman letting him/her know your feelings on the subject…
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Forest
September 16th, 2007 at 4:22 AM
Indeed, Walsh’s agenda is simply, as Kirsten states, political survival.
Walsh’s challenger, Dan Maffei, has an excellent vision for Upstate New York which stands in contrast to Walsh’s support of policies that have not benefited the region.
I hope you do pay close attention to the primary races next year.
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Pauley
September 16th, 2007 at 10:29 AM
I appreciate the comment, but I did say primary races. I’m hoping a Republican who’s not advocating a too-soon withdrawal from Iraq challenges him in the primary race, so I can feel better about voting for that person in the general.
– Pauley
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Forest
September 16th, 2007 at 4:31 PM
At the cost of $275 million per day, not to mention the human costs, continued engagement in Iraq unsustainable. A candidate supporting a failed policy for the general is going to have a hard time.
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