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Mark Brody's avatar

Trouble is, a lot of Republicans oppose the U.S. joining the war too. You'll need to create a new Uniparty devoted to peace. Are you willing to gain peace and lose your war against the Republicans?

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Aaron Regunberg's avatar

If Trump starts a war, and Democrats oppose it, the minority of anti-war Republicans is not going to register with a single voter when it comes to 2026 or 2028.

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Mark Brody's avatar

I understand, but I believe polls show that the majority of Republicans and an even higher majority of Democrats all oppose U.S. involvement in an Iran-Israel war.

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Aaron Regunberg's avatar

Right! Exactly. That’s why this could be such a powerful wedge issue.

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Mark Brody's avatar

Aaron: I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I myself am working towards unifying Democrats and Republicans. As a member of Braver Angels, I'm working towards improving relations between different political factions, so that we can work together against the common enemy: the corporate/government alliance. Divide et impera, so it is said. Together we can win!

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Neal Stamell's avatar

Interesting perspective on a complex issue. One question I have: wouldn't it be easier to get rid of Trump and his sycophants if they DID in fact get us entangled? I guess we need both--to take a stand against it and have him blunder his way forward regardless.

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Aaron Regunberg's avatar

I think Trump is going to do what Trump is going to do regardless of whether Democrats support or oppose it -- the only question, if Trump does it (even putting aside morality and everything, which should be reason enough), is whether Democrats will be on the right side of history and the right side of the public, or whether we tie ourselves to his boondoggle.

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Muriel from LA's avatar

I haven't heard that Trump is sitting down with Democrats to discuss anything much less asking for their opinion regarding the Middle East. He isn't asking Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon or John Thune, either. And it's really puzzling that the Iraq War is even brought up given the contexts are fundamentally different. Iran isn't denying that it has a nuclear program and that it's developing nuclear weapons. I must have missed something in my Logic class because these arguments are nonsensical - and that's a compliment. Both Obama and Biden were pretty befuddled about Iran and could never get their policies straight in their heads. Trump has been reasonably clear which is quite surprising considering his shaky ground about tariffs. As for the Middle East situation being a wedge issue: I literally burst out laughing at that one!!!! Mercy, how naive is that??? Sorry but I'm still laughing.

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Aaron Regunberg's avatar

Incorrect. See: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/15/world/middleeast/diplomacy-with-iran-is-damaged-not-dead.html

But the Iranians say they still want a deal, as does President Trump. The shape of future talks will inevitably depend on when and how the fighting stops.

“We are prepared for any agreement aimed at ensuring Iran does not pursue nuclear weapons,” the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told foreign diplomats in Tehran on Sunday. But his country would not accept any deal that “deprives Iran of its nuclear rights,” he added, including the right to enrich uranium, albeit at low levels that can be used for civilian purposes.

Mr. Araghchi said Israel did not attack to pre-empt Iran’s race toward a bomb, which Iran denies trying to develop, but to derail negotiations on a deal that Mr. Netanyahu opposes.

The attacks are “an attempt to undermine diplomacy and derail negotiations,” he continued, a view shared by various Western analysts. “It is entirely clear that the Israeli regime does not want any agreement on the nuclear issue,” he said. “It does not want negotiations and does not seek diplomacy.”

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Neal Stamell's avatar

To be clear, the statement says specifically that "war with Iran" could be a wedge issue.

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Muriel from LA's avatar

It's not a wedge issue any more than "democracy" was a wedge issue in 2024. However. it would be clever as hell for the Republican isolationists to holler about how much foreign aid goes to Israel for bombs and ammo. It would sure divert attention away from the budget bill and the raid on Medicaid. I read comments about how many poor Americans could be fed if foreign aid was redirected home. Hey, now there's a pretty fair con to spread around and if the hand is properly played, it sure would have a lot of voters tied in knots.

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joyce myrus's avatar

Get rid of Stephen Miller. Go after him.

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