Some Republicans will Stoop to Any Depth, and even Sacrifice the Dignity of the Congress To Get What They want

Yesterday the U.S. House passed the long awaited Iraq Emergency Supplemental Bill.
It’s passage puts the bill on the road to the Presidents desk in just a few days.

Now that the democrats have control of the House of representatives, the first binding congressional challenge to Bush's handling of the conflict, now in its fifth year, is about to arrive on his desk.

"Our troops are mired in a civil war with no clear enemy and no clear strategy for success," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, as only one of the many justifications for challenging the Presidents failed leadership and dim vision.

During the debate which preceded the vote in the house approving the bill, I listened carefully to the Democrat and Republican Representative as they waxed eloquently their view.

There was although a sharp departure from the civility and protocol when some Republicans, angry and beaten, came to the podium to address the distinguished room. Their words were vile and accusing, lashing out at the Majority as a wounded animal might do to those trying to help.
Republicans promised to stand squarely behind the president in rejecting what they called a

"surrender date"

handed to the enemy.

Rep. Jerry Lewis of California, ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, angry and shaken, broke with his own oath of office wherein he promised to serve “honorably”, when he said

"Al-Qaida will view this as the day the House of Representatives threw in the towel".

From my perspective, Republican Rep. Lewis was all but accusing his fellow Representatives who serve in the Majority Party of being traitors to our great nation and it’s people.

In doing so, Representative Lewis displayed his willingness to sacrifice the civility and honorable standing in that great house simply because he was, after six years of answering to no-one, having to answer to the Democratic Majority, who sat with distinction and dignity as this angry and pitiful excuse for a Congressman tore at their integrity, dignity and honor.

I wonder if the Congressman from California sacrificed even some of his own friendships this day. Coming to the precipice of calling out “Traitor” to your neighbor can be, and often is, very bad for a friendship.

As for me? If you should call me a traitor to my country, at the very least, we will not be having a Starbucks moment tomorrow morning together.

The continuation of the Republican patronization of the “troops” in Iraq is an insult to every single Soldier, Airman, Sailor and Marine in Iraq today.

In the Senate, Republican Senator Bailey Hutchinson said the war should continue “as long as it takes to defeat “them” and keep them from following us home”.

That does not even make sense. Our being there is preventing no one from coming here. Our being in Iraq is not even related to the efforts being executed to track terrorist around the world. The Republicans are trying to take the American public for a ride through fear and misinformation.

There is a scripture; ”A wise man bridles his tongue, but a fool will tell all of his foolishness”. There is no question which was the fool, or the wise man yesterday in the U.S. House of representatives. The Republicans must believe the American public are simpletons and idiots.

For six long years, no U.S. House member in the Republican Party had to think for himself, or herself. The President and Vice President were doing it all for them. They are angry. I do get that part.

Accountability, responsibility and sound judgment have returned to the leadership and rank and file of The U.S. Congress to a measurable degree. Some Republicans are simply going to have to get used to it.

I am sure, if the President does Veto the Bill, he will get the same bill on his desk next week. At least I hope he does.

Man........ that was a long six years.