Scary, I caught myself agreeing with Sen. Cornfed.  Because the resolutions Congress is debating are, indeed, meaningless.  They won’t do anything to stop the war. 

But rather than cut off funding, which the heretofore-spineless Dems consider insufficiently supportive of the troops, there remains impeachment of Duh and Chicanery for war crimes.

The time has come for the House “leadership” to begin drafting impeachment articles, or be viewed as the spineless weasels they have portrayed up to now.

Thanks for the article and the comments.  From where I am it doesn’t seem all so simple as some seem to believe.  The Republicans have simply told the Democrats to put-up or shut-up and, shamefully, the Democrats shut-up again, behind a smoke screen of bluster.  It may be the smart thing to do, as EJ suggests, but have they nothing else in their quiver?  I would believe their political problems begin with, and hence won’t go away, because their leadership is in the same bed as the Republicans.  It is difficult to be an effective opposition to something when both you and it are tarred by the same brush.

Let me ask a question.  Is it possible to see the November election not simply as a rejection of the administration but also as a rejection of centrism?  (centrism=corporatism)  I have an impression that there was a perceptible move to the left and liberalism (properly so-called) and since that election the Dem leadership have been at work exercising jurisdiction over the liberals in the party, which then puts them two steps behind the Republicans when they are used to being only one step behind.

Put another way; could the election have been evidence that the American people are hearkening back to a previous time when things seemed fairer, more just and made sense?  The reference to ‘eagle-eyed American justice’ is an indicator.  And, did anyone else notice the effort the right-wing put into calling the election a message by the American people for a move to the centre.  Was it?  Could it have been a move to the left and could the Dems be unfaithful to that call by staying at the centre?

Without a move to a more just, social democracy in the near future the next president, whom-ever, will carry on the war(s) in the middle east and in any other region deemed necessary to American security, or should I say to global corporatism?  It seems that America is in the grip of corporatism because its politicians are in the grip of corporations.

Terms like ‘American eagle-eyed’ justice can be a call to a just society or it can represent an atavism that prevents one from coming to grips with present difficulties.  Or it can, as it is to a lot of the peoples of the world, a form of stand-up comedy played in American media.

You will notice many question marks and qualifiers in my comment.  That’s because I’d like to hear an intelligent conversation about America and the world’s future rather than what we usually get in the media.

There is mention in the article of a statement by Dick Cheney about the need to ‘get the job done.’  In other words, ignore the will of Congress and the will of the people.  That is how omnipotent this Administration is.

But, this revelation is important on another front because it reveals the real intentions of the government and its Middle East policy; they do not plan on leaving any time soon.  And, they do not care what it is going to cost the taxpayers to stay there and ’ get the job done ‘

Getting the job done means means spending billions upon billions of dollars of American taxpayer money.  And, it also means making the poor and middle classes poorer than they already are. People are being asked to pay for wars which have no benefit to them, either in terms of security of economic advantage. The military industrial complex and the bankers are the beneficiaries here.  If these people want to keep this illegal war going they should be willing to pay for it themselves and not involve the innocent, victimized taxpayer.

If you want to conduct a war then pay for it yourselves. Buy your own mercenaries and your own military equipment. And, when you are done destroying the infrastructure of yet another country pay for your own reconstruction. Perhaps the taxpayers of Great Britain and Israel will lend you the money.  They seem to have an interest in all of this. Let them and their children pay for this.  Why should the American taxpayer being involved in such a scam as this when it is no obvious benefit to them and only makes them poorer and less powerful?

Mr. Baydala

I cannot help but wonder if the battle over a NON-BINDING resolution is not a smoke-screen allowing the administration to further its preparations for Iran. 
While the Congress engages in a non-action fire cracker debate they go on with their “Hell or High Water” activities.
The past actions of the administration and Congress are so untrustworthy that without firm action there is no reason to believe anything they say.

I read E.J. often and usually agree with what he has to say. I think that he is right in his analysis of what is going on now but I also think that he overlooked another important reason that the neo cons dont want a non binding resolution…to wit…
A non binding resolution passed now and disregarded by bushco would weigh heavily against him/them in possible future impeachment proceedings.

When we see the headline ‘Dick Cheney Resigns’, we’ll know something has really changed…

We the tax slaves have had no voice in what this government does and Congress is finally finding out that they don’t either. They’re just riding on the runaway Bu$h Inc. train just like the rest of us. The only difference is they’re riding on top while we’re greasing the wheels.
Anyone out there still living the American dream that isn’t a Neocon?

I think you’re right, E.J. I am one of those who never supported this war, always thought it was misguided, immoral, and tragically doomed for all concerned (except Halliburton et. al.). But in terms of the American political process, I think you are on target with your analysis.

This is an illegal and immoral war and funds should be cut with the only money funded to be for an orderly, fazed withdrawal.  We all realize that George W. Bush can’t “win” his war this way, so he wants to leave to the next president to fix or conclude it or withdraw.  George W. Bush doesn’t care about anyone else but himself.  He’s a small, shallow, criminally insane man that needs to be removed from office per the 25th ammendment(Cheney should be impeached first).  Now arguing that not supporting the surge is a sign of “not supporting the troops” and defeats their morale is a trap and the War Criminals know this.  Personally, I don’t support the troops.  They entered the military voluntarily and if they couldn’t figure out that this war was/is an immoral act by a criminal that thinks that only “Great Presidents Win Wars!!!”, then they deserve their fate.  Now, I realize that the majority of those that enter the military do so because it’s the only path to a possibly better life.  But let’s stop this insanity before it goes any further and kills any more of our soldiers. Now that really supports the troops!.

What’s possible for Congress to accomplish changes the moment there’s a vote on cutting off all funding for the Iraq war. Yes, it may not pass initially, but we try, try again and it’s sure to win.  Why?  Because we’ll prevail upon Congress to pass it, that’s why. As for this anti-surge resolution?  Forget it! It’s nothing but a wishy-washy, watered down, half-way measure, which will be worse than nothing at all.

The neocons are, in effect, reminding the Congress that they better be careful if they wish to get reelected. Not to worry, Congress understands and will not do anything substantial to prevent the forthcoming US/Iran war.

Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican and a Bush loyalist, told Gwen Ifill on PBS’ “NewsHour” last week. “If we really had the courage of our convictions,” Cornyn said, the ‘we’ referring to the war’s opponents, “if people said, ‘You know what? This is an immoral task we’ve asked our troops to do because we don’t believe in the mission, we think they’re going to fail,’ they ought to cut off funds. 

I agree completely with Mr. Cornyn!

I have been telling the Democrats since 2003 that the only to get out of Iraq is to cut funding, bring Impeachment against Bu$h/Cheney (Haliburton CEO) and apoligize to the world for the actions of these criminals.

Ask yourself, isn’t this a no brainer?

Not if you too are owned by the Military Industrial colluders.

Collude definition:  To act together secretly to achieve a fraudulent, illegal, or deceitful purpose; conspire.

If the Democrats continue to show that they can’t break away from this group, the American people must join together to put forward a third party to wrest control of our Government from the hands of those now in office no matter what their political stripe.

Thank goodness for “the likes of” Dennis Kucinich and Cindy Sheehan. If not for these two straightforward, stand-up proponents of peace through ending Deputy Dubya’s duplicitous disaster in Iraq, we would have nothing but mawkish milquetoast mavens mildly moaning mealy mouthfuls of melliflously modulated mush—the likes of E. J. Dionne.

Americans supported a cutting-off of funds to end the American War on Vietnam. Americans will support a cutting-off of funds to end the American War on Iraq. This Warfare Welfare and Makework Militarism marketed through Manufactured Mendacity and Managed Mystification needs to stop. “Starve the Beast” will work just fine because as the jaded Vietnamese bar girls used to taunt the broke and hard-up GIs on Tu Do Street in Saigaon: “No money, no honey!” The Chinese own enough of America and our children’s future already.

This criminal administration will never listen to People’s Voice. It only follows devil’s manipulation for its phantom glory. There’s absolutely no reason for this dynasty being present.

War for profit. Trace the lies. Follow the dollars. It’s obvious who’s cashing in and who’s suffering. Time to act with American Eagle-eyed justice.