SUPPORT THE TROOPS RESOLUTION
The Schoolchildren in our Congress
If the underlying subject matter were not so serious - the loss of life and treasure - this weeks's performance by the House of Representatives would be laughable. The Republicans introduced a resolution to support our troops in Iraq. Well, who said we needed that? Who doesn't support our troops?
The real reason, of course, was to embarrass the Democrats. The resolution tries to get a vote on Bush's dubious contentions on the invasion and war by going on to state that the U.S is "engaged in a global war on terror, a long and demanding struggle against an adversary that is driven by hatred of American values and that is committed to imposing, by the use of terror, its repressive ideology throughout the world." It also declares that "the terrorists have declared Iraq to be the central front in their war against all who oppose their ideology
Implying that Iraq had been, before we made it so, a source of terrorist attacks was intended to put Democrats in a bind. And it did. Despite the obvious ploy, 42 Democrats felt obliged to vote in favor of the resolution.
The real question is why the Democrats let themselves get dragged into this game of "gotcha". Like schoolkids, the Republicans can say "so there". The answer is that they shouldn't.
When the Republicans enter a resolution that is just political nonsence, the Democrats should refuse to participate. If necessary, walk out. The Congress is supposed to be a deliberative body. When our nation is face with crucial issues, time must not be spent on phony resolutions.
The Schoolchildren in our Congress
If the underlying subject matter were not so serious - the loss of life and treasure - this weeks's performance by the House of Representatives would be laughable. The Republicans introduced a resolution to support our troops in Iraq. Well, who said we needed that? Who doesn't support our troops?
The real reason, of course, was to embarrass the Democrats. The resolution tries to get a vote on Bush's dubious contentions on the invasion and war by going on to state that the U.S is "engaged in a global war on terror, a long and demanding struggle against an adversary that is driven by hatred of American values and that is committed to imposing, by the use of terror, its repressive ideology throughout the world." It also declares that "the terrorists have declared Iraq to be the central front in their war against all who oppose their ideology
Implying that Iraq had been, before we made it so, a source of terrorist attacks was intended to put Democrats in a bind. And it did. Despite the obvious ploy, 42 Democrats felt obliged to vote in favor of the resolution.
The real question is why the Democrats let themselves get dragged into this game of "gotcha". Like schoolkids, the Republicans can say "so there". The answer is that they shouldn't.
When the Republicans enter a resolution that is just political nonsence, the Democrats should refuse to participate. If necessary, walk out. The Congress is supposed to be a deliberative body. When our nation is face with crucial issues, time must not be spent on phony resolutions.
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