Principles? We Don’t Need No Stinking Principles.
The Washington Post is reporting that Nancy Pelosi has coerced the members of the so-called out of Iraq coalition in the House to cast aside their principles and vote for the supplemental funding bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Oh, and for the enormous, greasy gobbets of fresh pork that festoon that bill like an all you can eat buffet. So much for principle. You know, I actually had a bit of respect for the folks who actually had enough principle to stand by their convictions, even if I do not agree with their ideals.
Liberal opposition to a $124 billion war spending bill broke last night, when leaders of the antiwar Out of Iraq Caucus pledged to Democratic leaders that they will not block the measure, which sets timelines for bringing U.S. troops home.
The acquiescence of the liberals probably means that the House will pass a binding measure today that, for the first time, would establish tough readiness standards for the deployment of combat forces and an Aug. 31, 2008, deadline for their removal from Iraq.
A Senate committee also passed a spending bill yesterday setting a goal of bringing troops home within a year. The developments mark congressional Democrats' first real progress in putting legislative pressure on President Bush to withdraw U.S. forces.
Even more than the conservative Democrats leery of appearing to micromanage the war, House liberals have been the main obstacle to leadership efforts to put a timeline on the withdrawal of U.S. forces. They have complained that the proposal would not bring troops home fast enough. Their opposition has riven the antiwar movement, split the Democratic base and been the main stumbling block to the legislation, which had originally been scheduled for a vote yesterday.
But, the resultant bill will be vetoed, the Democratic leadership knows it. And the money will begin to run out for troops in the Field. The false, pious sanctimony of the Democrats who have been saying they would never abandon the troops in the Field has just been revealed in all its glaring hypocrisy. The money will run out for the troops in harm's way, but not for peanut farmers. Because the most ethical congress that Pelosi promised is a massive taxpayer funded pork festival. I believe this will surely backfire on the Democrats. Interestingly, so does the Washington Post editorial page.
As it is, House Democrats are pressing a bill that has the endorsement of MoveOn.org but excludes the judgment of the U.S. commanders who would have to execute the retreat the bill mandates. It would heap money on unneedy dairy farmers while provoking a constitutional fight with the White House that could block the funding to equip troops in the field. Democrats who want to force a withdrawal should vote against war appropriations. They should not seek to use pork to buy a majority for an unconditional retreat that the majority does not support.
Those abandoning principle to vote for this may have done themselves serious damage without actually accomplishing any real good. I suspect the voters are going to send that message along shortly.
By Rightmom, Friday, 23 March , 2007 @ 7:54 am
It will not make it through the Senate