Congress Returns Facing Iraq, Homeland Security [Be careful what you wish for...]

Reuters ^ | Friday, August 30, 2002 | By Thomas Ferraro

[JohnHuang2]

Friday, August 30, 2002

Quote of the Day by marron

[Abcdefg]

Yeah, don't forget that subverting the Constitution is always high on their aganda.

[JohnHuang2]

Bingo.

[spokeshave]

Bush plays chess while the rats are still on the checker board....again....

[mware]

Make everyone of them vote up or down on this. I want to see who is who.

[JohnHuang2]

Exactly, my friend.

[JohnHuang2]

Make everyone of them vote up or down on this. I want to see who is who.

Amen.

[Miss Marple]

I am so glad you wrote about this. I noticed this in Cheney's speech yesterday and it leaped out at me: he did, indeed, call their bluff. And as a prelude to the vote, we will get to see Leahy question Rice, Rumsfeld, and Cheney.

Anyone want to bet on the outcome of that? Ha!

[eureka!]

Yes, John, the Rats may have overplayed their hand. The presstitutes' collusion in trying to chill the war--UN, Chirac, Ramsey Clark, Scowcroft etc. stories--will be shown to have been for nil. Congress has to support the war (at least for the election) and the more they debate, the less chance the 'Rats have to lie about the economy, prescription drugs etc. Hehehehe....

[Wright is right!]

The House will immediately approve a resolution by an overwhelming vote and send it to the Senate, where Daschle will find a way to posture and bottle it up until after the 'lections. Or at least ATTEMPT to. This might be one of the last things Little Tommie does before assuming the post of Senate Minority Leader.

Michael

[mwl1]

Make them vote before leaving town for the election campaign. An aye or nay from each of the bigmouths will be instructive. Either way they vote, it will hurt Carnahan, Wellstone, Levin, Cleland and others.

[mwl1]

Bottling up the resolution is the worst possible approach for Daschle, because it points up his greatest weakness: obstruction of the president's agenda. He'd be foolish and stupid to try that approach.

[JohnHuang2]

And as a prelude to the vote, we will get to see Leahy question Rice, Rumsfeld, and Cheney.

hehehe ;^)

[JohnHuang2]

He'd be foolish and stupid to try that approach.

Daschle's been miscalculating ever since staging his palace coup.

[JohnHuang2]

Make them vote before leaving town for the election campaign. An aye or nay from each of the bigmouths will be instructive.

Bank on it. This CONGRESS isn't going home TILL they vote up-or-down.

[JohnHuang2]

Wouldn't be a bit surprised, amigo.

[Hugin]

The Dems keep saying there needs to be a debate and a vote, so what's stopping them? Bring up a resolution and debate it then have a vote. Simple huh?

Except that the Dems don't really want a debate and a vote so much as they want Bush to have to come to them hat in hand and ask for one. After all, there is no requirement that the Persiednt ask for a declaration of war (or it's modern equivelent, a resolution) for Congress to pass one. What they want to establish that the Adminstration is on a short leash in the war on terror and foreign policy in general. Hence they continue to say Bush must "make the case" for an Iraq invasion despite the fact that you would have to live in a cave in Nepal not to know the facts. They also dread Bush's increased prestige and popularity that a successful operation would bring, but want to at least be able to share in the glory of a successful war. But a vote one way or the other will split their base. A yes vote will alienate the pacifist wing of the party, but a no vote will alienate moderate Democrats and independents who they need to get elected. So they are carping from the sidelines hoping they won't actually have to vote until at least after the elections.

The best plan for the Bush adminstration is to have Republican legislators sponsor resolutions authorizing the president to take whatever actions he needs to about Saddam. The Pubs should be able to force a vote in the House where it should pass easily. If Daschle doesn't bring it up in the Senate any later complaints about not having a say will be shown to be hollow political BS. That way either Bush gets another authorization and he pre-empts a Dem attack that they weren't consulted or if he doesn't get a resolution he can always go ahead and act without it based on the opinion of the White House Consul.

[JohnHuang2]

Exactly, my friend -- though I believe the scenario "Wright is right!'" sketched (post #10) is likely, to wit, Daschle will try to bottle up the vote, the obstruction sparks a backlash, touching off mutiny in the Dems' rank.

Bottom line: Bush gets his vote, Daschle ends up with egg on his face, yet again.