Philadelphia voters will get a chance to weigh in on the Iraq war this November if City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell gets her way.
And though the vote has no legal power over American foreign policy, it could have an effect elsewhere on the ballot by turning out voters for Democratic senatorial candidate Bob Casey Jr.
Modeled after initiatives that passed earlier this month in 24 of 32 Wisconsin towns, Blackwell's effort would place on the ballot a question asking voters if they want "to begin an immediate withdrawal of its troops from Iraq, beginning with the National Guard and Reserve and ending with a total withdrawal of all U.S. forces by the end of year 2006."
Blackwell said a resolution would give Philadelphians a chance to send a message to Washington: "It's time to bring our kids home," she said.
Beyond a chance to give the Iraq war a symbolic thumbs-down, the ballot initiative could also serve another purpose amid a hard-fought Senate race. In overwhelmingly Democratic Philadelphia, the referendum could help bring out liberal voters who might be lukewarm about the antiabortion, pro-gun Casey, the front-runner in the Democratic primary campaign to take on U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum in the fall.
Crossposted at PoliticsPhilly.com
What do you think? Is this a good move? Will the proposal make it through committee in City Council and get on the ballot in November? Will it impact the Governor's race or the Senate race? Any of the State Legislature races?
I'm not sure
Well, Casey is pro-war re: Iraq and a nuclear war pragmatist when it comes to Iran. I'm not sure who among the people energized to come out and vote on this question will be motivated to also vote for Casey.
exactly!
the issue should be brought forth *now* in the Democratic primary where there are two anti-war pro-withdrawal candidates. Chuck Pennacchio has had an exit strategy [.pdf] since June of 2005.
backyard list
The War in Iraq is on a list of problems....
I'd prefer the honorable lady from West Philly (and our city) put a little more energy into fixing the issues in her own backyard. Say for instance: the war on the poor and middle class in philadelphia, ie, second class schools, increasing violent crime, third world health statistics, job loss, and a repressive/regressive tax regime. Where is her outrage (or that of her colleagues) for any of these issues?
If its thought that this type of resolution is a better use of the snapshot civic attention we get during election time, perhaps we should start with a resolution to do something about Darfur.......
Cost of this war
Don't forget the finacial factor -- and the question of how many generations will be paying for this war. The annual war expenditures in Iraq continues to rise, from $48 billion in 2003, to $59 billion in 2004, to $81 billion in 2005 to an anticipated $94 billion in 2006, according to the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.
The U.S. government is now spending nearly $10 billion a month in Iraq and Afghanistan!
http://grant-montgomery.blogspot.com/