Live by the Sword, Die by the Sword

In the 2006 election cycle, the electorate made a very clear choice.  Reflecting on frustration with the results in Iraq, wasteful government spending and conflicts of interest, voters pulled the Democratic lever.  The Democratic Party for its part played the cards well.  Railing against the Iraq War and siding with the majority, Democrats promised to chart a new course – this would not be “stay the course”.  A fresh wind was ready to blow.

In a squeaker of a vote (218-212), the Democratic-controlled Congress voted to fund the troops in Iraq, but provided a timetable for departure.  The hypocrisy of this vote is so transparent as to defy description.  Our local Congressman is very proud of his vote, but who knows why?

First, Congress knows that the Bush Administration will veto this Bill before it arrives at the White House.  It was a cowardly vote, neither denying the funding as so many anti-war proponents would want, nor funding the troops unequivocally to get the job done.  It is a washing of hands by a new Congressional leadership unwilling to take responsibility for turning the tide around in Iraq or pulling the plug and witnessing the consequences of the demagoguery they trumpeted on the stump last year.

The date for a troop removal (fall 2008) is well-timed for a Presidential Election.  Why not December this year?  Why not June 2009?  No; far better to put it right in the middle of the electioneering so that the Democrats can continue to deny any culpability and use it as an election issue – despite the fact that American lives are on the line.  Make a stand or get out of the way, but don’t toy with these issues.

In order to achieve this “historic” vote, the Democrats had to bribe their fellow Congressmen with $24 billion of pork barrel earmarks.  This unseemly baggage on a serious Bill designed to fund our own protection from Islamic fanatics is a complete denial of the campaign promises to reduce earmarks and runaway spending.

For the Democrats it was a marvelous election cycle, played masterfully.  You only get one chance to fool most people – let’s see if the Democrats can make it two in a row.