Affairs of the House
House Democrats look to have the votes to fund another year of war in Iraq and some gratuitous pork. Like the long-time anti-war Democrats, I am conflicted about the bill. It does not really constrain CheneyBush and continues a pattern of Democratic support for an ill-advised policy that goes back at least five years.
But it does set a date to end combat. That's worth something. It's a statement that the House of Representatives wants the occupation to end in a given time. It could also mean that some members want their agricultural subsidies. Not the compelling statement of opposition I think is merited but at least a step in the right direction. Nonetheless, CheneyBush and his allies are afraid of even this small sign of opposition, so it has a symbolic value. Weak and feeble as the House bill is, it's not likely to survive the Senate, CheneyBush's veto or his willfull disregard for law.
Funding military operations in Iraq is not my main objection to the bill. Our military is there and should be able to protect itself and carry out its mission. What I object to is continuing the mission. I want to change the mission from active combat to withdrawal in favor of local and regional control and containment of potential external threats in a less destructive manner in cooperation with neighboring nations and our world partners. I believe Congress has every right and to insist that the executive change a failed policy. What this Congress is likely to produce will fall far short of meeting that responsibility.
Congress is not completely hopeless, though. The House yesterday passed the Joshua Omvig Suicide Prevention Act which directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and carry out a comprehensive program designed to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans. Last week the House Armed Services Committee reported out the Wounded Warrior Act of 2007 to improve the management of medical care, personnel actions, and quality of life issues for members of the Armed Forces who are receiving medical care in an outpatient status. The bill is still awaiting action by the House Veterans Affairs Committee.
I'll take progress where I can find it. You legislate with the Congress you have, not the one you wish you had.
posted by Rez Dog at 7:31 AM
1 Comments:
i'm not one to argue motivations or expecting people to "do the right thing for the right reasons" if the right thing gets done i don't care about the motivations. the wounded warrior legislation is generations overdue. if it succeeds i will be pleased. it's strange that the two biggest, and latest scandals of the bush adminstration are ones that have been going on for a long, long time. the VA actually improved its care significantly under clinton and even bush wasn't able to degrade the level of care all that much. but, it still sucked, and it's a good thing that it will change for the better. the u.s. attorneys have always been political in nature and had they not tried to lie and sneak about their motives they might have been able to pull off their purge without a fuss. we shall see.
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