Play Another Song

This brouhaha over in the US House today over the war in Iraq was really sad. It is nothing more than nonsense to take a member of Congress' resolution and stripping it of its language. This is what Jack Murtha submitted:

Whereas Congress and the American People have not been shown clear, measurable progress toward establishment of stable and improving security in Iraq or of a stable and improving economy in Iraq, both of which are essential to "promote the emergence of a democratic government";

Whereas additional stabilization in Iraq by U, S. military forces cannot be achieved without the deployment of hundreds of thousands of additional U S. troops, which in turn cannot be achieved without a military draft;

Whereas more than $277 billion has been appropriated by the United States Congress to prosecute U.S. military action in Iraq and Afghanistan;

Whereas, as of the drafting of this resolution, 2,079 U.S. troops have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom;

Whereas U.S. forces have become the target of the insurgency,

Whereas, according to recent polls, over 80% of the Iraqi people want U.S. forces out of Iraq;

Whereas polls also indicate that 45% of the Iraqi people feel that the attacks on U.S. forces are justified;

Whereas, due to the foregoing, Congress finds it evident that continuing U.S. military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the people of Iraq, or the Persian Gulf Region, which were cited in Public Law 107-243 as justification for undertaking such action;

Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That:

Section 1. The deployment of United States forces in Iraq, by direction of Congress, is hereby terminated and the forces involved are to be redeployed at the earliest practicable date.

Section 2. A quick-reaction U.S. force and an over-the-horizon presence of U.S Marines shall be deployed in the region.

Section 3 The United States of America shall pursue security and stability in Iraq through diplomacy.

This is what they'll be voting on in about an hour:

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the deployment of United States forces in Iraq be terminated immediately.

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the deployment of United States forces in Iraq be terminated immediately.

I always thought politics were supposed to end at the water's edge. But not for the new GOP. This never went through committee, it was rushed to the floor, with debate suspended, and forced through to a vote with what is likely to be no supporters.

They hate us for our freedom and democracy!

As to Jean Schmidt (Maniac-OH), who actually called Jack Murtha a coward on the floor of the House today, it's even more sad. The only direct strategy for the GOP throughout this war on terror has been to question dissenter's patriotism. There literally hasn't been any move from that level of debate. It's like going to see the Beach Boys, and they come out and open with "Good Vibrations," and then they segue into "Good Vibrations," then they bring out a special guest to jam on "Good Vibrations," then they do an acoustic version of "Good Vibrations." At some point you want to get out of your seat and yell "Play another song!!!"

Stay the course is not a strategy. "Clap louder or shut up" is not a strategy. Playing the same song over and over and over is not a strategy. And it's certainly not a debate tactic. The American people deserve an honest, forthright debate on the war in Iraq. There's a very credible argument for a continued presence to be made, on humanitarian grounds, on the need for us to settle regional tensions that would be inflamed after a pullout, on the idea that we've busted up the infrastructure and the population over there and we're now obligated to fix it. The Republicans never engage in this argument, because they don't want a debate. To them, leaving equals losing, dissent equals treason, and silence is the only way Democrats should express themselves. And YET, they try to saddle Democrats with some of the blame for the war itself, with wildly inaccurate statements like "Congress saw the same intelligence we did" and the like. So, it's our war and we'll fight it as long as we want, but it's mostly your fault for getting us into it.

This was the aforementioned Jean Schmidt on her first day in the House:

"This House has much work to do. On that we can all agree. We will not always agree on the details of that work. Honorable people can certainly agree to disagree. However, here today I accept a second oath. I pledge to walk in the shoes of my colleagues and refrain from name-calling or the questioning of character. It is easy to quickly sink to the lowest form of political debate. Harsh words often lead to headlines, but walking this path is not a victimless crime. This great House pays the price."

Act like it. All of you. Quit shutting down debate and changing resolutions in the middle of the game and launching ad hominem attacks. These are serious times, and serious policies you're debating. It shames this Republic to continue this dishonest governance.

I'd suggest that every Democrat worth his salt just walk out of the chamber, letting Rep. Murtha slam the door shut on the way out. Of course, that's exactly what the Republicans would want.