Chris Dodd for President

A Washington Post / ABC News poll out today shows that an overwhelming majority of Americans want to see large-scale troop reductions by next summer, if not sooner. Additionally, there is bipartisan consensus among the American people in the belief that Congress should cut funding for the Iraq war.

Here's the Washington Post on the results with regards to funding the war in Iraq:

There is broader public agreement on how Congress should approach war funding. About a quarter of adults want Congress to fund fully the administration's $190 billion request; seven in 10 want the proposed allocation reduced, with 46 percent wanting it cut sharply or entirely. About seven in 10 independents want Congress to cut back funds allocated for the war effort, as do nearly nine in 10 Democrats; 46 percent of Republicans agree.

Scarecrow of FireDogLake breaks down the numbers on withdrawal:

What Americans are more likely saying is that 38 percent want at least the 30,000 troops withdrawn on Bush’s schedule while an even greater number, 43 percent, want a larger, quicker withdrawal. That’s an overwhelming 81 percent in favor of withdrawing troops (compared to 60 percent in July), and more than half of those want the exit to be faster than Bush proposes. Americans aren’t supporting Bush; they overwhelmingly support bringing the troops home.

81% of Americans want the US to withdraw troops from Iraq. 69% of Americans want Congress to cut funding from Bush's request for the war in Iraq. These numbers could not be more clear: the American public stands with Chris Dodd on ending America's involvement in Iraq's civil war.

This morning I spoke with Siun of FireDogLake at the Take Back America conference. She has been very impressed with Senator Dodd's work to end the Iraq War. In this video she talks about Senator Dodd's leadership in the fight against the Iraq supplemental bill last month.

Here is Senator Dodd's statement on the future of the Iraq debate. It comes in response to last night's passage of an Iraq supplemental bill that did not include a timetable for responsibly redeploying our troops from Iraq.

Chris Dodd: "I'm not going to stop and I want you to know that."

Update As requested by a commenter, here's my transcription of Senator Dodd's statement:

Well yesterday's vote in the United States Senate was a real disappointment. I had hoped we'd get more votes to express our opposition to the supplemental funding bill in Iraq. But we're far from finished because this matter will come up again. I'll do everything possible, I'll be fighting every single step of the way so that we end our involvement in Iraq's civil war and we bring back, bring our troops home in a responsible and safe way for them. Again, this is going to come back. It'll come back next month, in July, in August, in September and I want you to know that every step of the way I'll be doing everything I can to see to it that we bring a conclusion to this. Our national security and the security of our country is at risk. We're not as secure today, we're more isolated, we're a lot more vulnerable. We need to do everything we can to get our country back on track again, to become a moral leader of the world once again. And so I'm not going to stop and I want you to know that.

Senator Dodd's principled, vocal opposition to the Iraq supplemental bill, submitted by Congress to the President with no timetable for withdrawal and no limitations on Congressional purse-strings, has been a breath of fresh air for the country. Unfortunately not everyone voted with Senator Dodd yesterday and, in the end, Congress sent President Bush a supplemental spending bill that is merely a half-measure. Yesterday Senator Dodd delivered a speech on the floor of the Senate explaining in greater detail why he was voting against the Iraq supplemental. He closed his remarks with this line:

Let us bring this disastrous war to a responsible end. And after four years of failed policy, let our voice be loud and unmistakable: “This far, and no further.”

Since the Senator expressed his decision to oppose the vote -- and broadcast it online Wednesday afternoon through YouTube -- there have been countless Americans who have stood up and stated their thanks for Senator Dodd's conviction to do what it takes to bring the Iraq War to an end. I wanted to share with you some of the words people who are joining Senator Dodd in making their voice "loud and unmistakable."

“Thanks for trying to end the war. Please don't stop. Please do what you can to help the rest of the Democrats develop some courage. Please keep doing what you can to help bring our soldiers home." --Trevor, Brooklyn, NY “Thank you for your efforts to end the Iraq occupation.” – Linnea, Lincoln Park, MI “Thank you for remembering that the American people are against this war and they want the troops home. Thank you for your courage!” –Nancy, New York, NY “Stand tough, Chris. It looks like you're one of the only candidates to do so. You have my full support.” – David, Arlington, TX “Keep up the good work opposing the war.” – William, Killingworth, CT “Thank you for being one of the few Democrats in Congress to stand up to Bush on Iraq.” – Kenneth, Dallas, TX

Thanks to everyone who has sent along their support and their appreciation to Senator Dodd for his principled stand. Your support and your commitment to change is what makes me sure that we will be able to end this war. Chris Dodd stands with the American public on Iraq -- he's working to end a war that is endangering our troops and our national security. I'm very proud that I get to work for Senator Dodd, but I want to use my public platform to thank him for his strong stance on Iraq. You are providing us with what our country dearly needs: leadership to end the war. Not in 2008. Not in 2009. Now. Thank you for having the courage of your convictions to stand up front and fight for a change in course. Keep it up!