I'll say this much: You can't accuse them of inconsitency.
Instead of sticking with troop-withdrawal dates, Democrats accepted a GOP plan to establish 18 political and legislative benchmarks for the Iraqi government, with periodic reports from Bush on its progress, starting in late July. If the Iraqis fall short, they could forfeit U.S. reconstruction aid.That's nice--the same system, if I'm not mistaken, used for the disbursal of federal highway funds to the states From PennDOT to Baghdad and back again.
As is always and inevitably the case, the Donkle put the kettle on the flame and got its contents lukewarm, but then the dauphin raised his squinting, rodentian face like a Whack-a-Mole puppet and said, "The Troops™." The Donkle screeched like a girl who finds a spider in her hair, threw the water out the kitchen window, backed against the fridge, curled in a ball at its base, and snatched at imaginery flies, whispering, "Moment of truth, moment of truth." Actually, according to the Donkle Doyenne, la Nan herself, September will be "the moment of truth," and if that doesn't get your pulse pacing, why, you're either dead or paying attention.
Over at FrailyKOS, two million tiny feet stamp in time with the discord of one million of the world's tiniest violins. I have not witnessed such symphonic, mythical impotence since Hans Jürgen Syberberg's film adaptation of Parsifal. You can imagine Harry Reid actually carrying his own penis and balls on a platter as an offering, like a medieval martyr carrying her own breasts or eyes, but without the attendent miracles. Meanwhile, something called Tomasky reveals, entirely unselfconsciously, what's really at stake:
As indefensible and tragic as the war is, this is the best Democrats can do right now. De-funding would have handed the Republicans a great argument going into next year's election--which is, of course, one in which Democrats have their best shot at winning the White House in a long time. Iraq is Bush's war, and Democrats need to make certain that it stays that way.What's a little death between Super-Delegates? Blood under the bridge. But you know, this is America's war, and to an Iraqi the difference between Geroge W. Bush, Harry Reid, Michael Tomasky, and the soldier holding a gun to his wife's face is really vanishingly small. Each speaks English; each is a coward; and none of them truly gives a damn.
(KOS and Guardian links via C&L.)
8 comments:
I am utterly disgusted by the Democratic collapse, but I am not particularly surprised. As usual, the Dems sacrifice doing the right thing in favor of doing the politically advantageous thing-- and as usual, they are 100% wrong about what is actually politically advantageous. They are cutting their own throats figuratively while cutting the throats of our troops and the Iraqis somewhat less figuratively. Sickening.
You just wait! When the Democrats have a ten vote majority in the Senate , and 20 votes in the House, and the Presidency...things will REALLY change. But....we can't abandon the troops. There will be bloodshed when we leave! Iran Iran Nuclear Oogie Boogie!
(That Embassy will be mighty sweeeet, too. A 16,000 square foot ambassadorial residence! A 9,000 square foot residence for the Assistant. We can't give that up-can we?)
Oops. Maybe we can propose a 35-point set of benchmarks for the Iraqi "government."
Yes, this is bullshit. There's really no excuse for it.
I don't think so.
Let's say the Democrats defund the war. What happens then?
Do you think George W. Bush will just bring the troops home if the Democrats defund the war? Because I, personally, don't think George W. Bush will just bring the troops home if the Democrats defund the war. I can't think of a single reason, in light of recent history, to think George W. Bush will cease to be intransigent just because the Democrats have voted to defund the war.
I expect he'll find some pretext to continue. Something: anything. Considering that the emperor is currently wearing no clothes, it's hard to imagine he'll require much substance of his fig leaf.
And then what happens after that? Call the Sheriff and have him arrested?
Ha! Of course not! We'll look to the Constitutional remedidies provided by our founders!
You know, like the Scalia-Thomas-Roberts-Allito Supreme Court.
Hmmm....
Or...or...impeach and remove!! Certainly the nearly-half-full-of-Republicans-who've-supported-the-President-this-far Senate will vote to remove President Bush. (And then the Sheriff can come and pick him up!)
Surely, his successor, President Cheney, will understand his mandate to bring the troops home.
If you've got a better answer to the question of what next, I'd love to hear it.
That's right! Bush will fund the war from his secret illuminati profits! It's true! I read it on DKO$!
Anyway, our wonderful democratic congress are realy just poor poor helpless lambs. Don't you feel bad for them? They can't do anything until they have a 50 seat majority in the senate and 100 in the house and the presidency and there's a blue moon and the Orioles win the World Series at least three time in a row and and and don't you see? Can't you see?!? Anybody But Bush! Vote for Hillary or we'll all die and it'll be all your fault!!!!!!
Secret Illuminati revenues, Alan. They almost had their staffing and admin costs under control, but funded depreciation on all those castles, strongholds, palaces, and caverns full of the holy artifacts of Christ is just killing their margins.
Otherwise, yes. What you said.
Sadly, I somewhat agree with Mr. Sorwell: Our current structure cannot end the war. CANNOT. War and Empire is WHAT WE DO. It may be unfair (albeit very entertaining) to disrespect the Donkle head of the two-headed beast. Especially when said little head (the Colmes of our Hannity and Colmes political system?) WANTS more war.
I see a military coup, China, Europe, and Japan calling in our debts post-Iran invasion, or massive social collapse as the only way to stop the machine. The machine will be stopped only when it cannot be fed any longer.
OMG!!
How could I have forgotten that everybody wants more war when there I, myself, was wanting more war!!!!!!
ROTFLMAO!!
It's the health of the state, you know. Heh. Indeed.
Post a Comment