Democrats can't walk on water
Some people are griping about the non-binding resolution against a troop surge in Iraq that the Democrats have been pushing. What good does it do they ask? It was lame they say. They knew it would pass in the House and fail in the Senate. Why waste the time and energy?
But I just don't see it that way .. I don't know what's so bad about putting the Senate Democrats (and 7 Republicans) on the record against sending more American troops to the Iraq mess. I mean, headlines like -- "GOP blocks Senate vote on troop resolution" .. and "Republicans Block Senate War Debate" seem significant to me.
Ah .. one day those Republicans will have to hit the campaign trail to those small counties that have kids in the National Guard that should be coming home, but have just had their mission extended. These are 'heart of America' farm communties where people gather in local cafes to share email and letters from their kids in Iraq .. and they are not happy campers. They speak of soldiers who are just coming home and already have orders to go back .. their stuff hasn't even arrived from Iraq yet.
The resolution gave Democrats the opportunity to test the unity of the Democrats (excellent) and the resolve of the Republicans (signs of panic and disarray). The talking points memo that leaked from the Republicans revealed the tension they're feeling. All they've got is rhetoric and fear-mongering.
The resolutions also kept the debate in the headlines. Having both Houses take a stand and make a statement on record was a clever move .. sets the stage for the next moves.
And the Democrats cannot walk on water .. they have only been in power a month or so .. they've come far but have far to go. They have to keep showing the other side that they mean business and will keep looking for opportunities to do the people's will. Last Nov. voters sent a clear message to Wash. DC -- End This Stupid War!
Be patient people .. for six years the Republicans held both houses of Congress .. AND the Executive branch .. AND the Supreme Court .. and they ruled like they had a divine right. It will take many moons to undo their messes.
Democrats are taking baby steps to end the war without jumping into de-funding first thing .. which may be a smart political move. Jack Murtha's plan could be workable .. and maybe Democrats could also keep adding little amendments to bills that would hamper the White House. After all, Republicans were well known for slipping last minute amendments into bills, sometimes without even their majority members knowing about them.
Democrats will certainly have to whip up more public support before they start cutting funding for Bush's War. The country needs to be strongly behind them. With the numbers as they are in the Senate, Democrats will earn their keep by having to scare up some political savvy to win any battle.
So .. even non-binding solutions are better than nothing. Look at it as just a first step .. it will get tougher from here on out .. I hope. People who expect Democrats to stop the war and are complaining about the weakness of the resolution, just don't understand that Democrats never had the power either to stop the war or to phase it down. Even if every last one of them had voted against the 2002 resolution, Bush could go ahead and have his war.
Cheney told Wolf Blitzer recently -- "There's nothing they can do to stop us." Sent chills down my spine.
Let's face it, if this non-binding resolution had actually squeaked through the Senate .. the effect would be exactly the same. It is nothing more than a symbolic slap in the face to Bush. No effect at all on Bush's war.
But I like that it will be on record for future historians to see -- when they shake their heads and wonder at what a bunch of short-sighted idiots we were to open this Middle Eastern Pandora's Box and get our country into such a disaster -- they will see that some of us tried to stop it.
It would be very nice if someone in Congress could come up with a funding freeze that could pass Congress .. one that wouldn't hurt our troops already on the ground. But Bush would only veto it.
(However, that only applies to Iraq, not Iran. Watergate guy John Dean says Congress can stop Iran from being the next loop of Bush's inanity.)
Turning things around won't happen overnight .. remember Vietnam and how it takes a long time and a lot of effort to wind down a debacle as big as Iraq. We want Democrats to keep the passion and the energy to withdraw us from this mess .. and change the way our country functions in the world and at home.
I want some of those troops to go finish the job we started in Afghanistan .. and a good part of them to come here to help guard our broken borders and vulnerable ports, subways and airports.
And our food supply. I'll bet that's how they'll try to hit us next.
Bertrand Russell made sense when he said -- War does not determine who is right - only who is left. We can't kill them all.
