GranolaBox

Senate Votes for Timetable - FINALLY

In a reasonable semblance of chutzpah, the Senate today (3/29) voted - finally, to put a timetable on troop withdrawal. The bill if passed would force Bush to withdraw troops within 120 days of the passage of the bill, and cease operations by this time next year. However exciting this moment of clarity may be, Bush immediately huddled the Republican faithful together to make sure his promised veto won’t be overrun.

What’s really frustrating about this whole vote is the Republicans’ mindsets. I say mindsets because they keep jumping the fence, or, umm, flip-flopping. First we have President Bush, who criticizes Democrats saying “We stand united in saying loud and clear that when we’ve got a troop in harm’s way, we expect that troop to be fully funded.” Well, Mr. President, it seems to me if we get the troops the hell out, as the bill calls for, they won’t be in harm’s way anymore will they? The criticism become even more baffling: “We expect the Congress to be wise about how they spend the people’s money.” What about the $412.567,815,276 that’s already been spent as of 6:23 Eastern Time on March 29?

A lot of the Republican faithful joining the President on the North Portico are flip-floppers of the worst sort. Many Republics have been criticizing the war - often loudly to curry the support of their constituents, but they won’t do anything to actually stop it. They know what voters want, but they’re afraid to tear their lips off the president’s ass. These “moderate” Republicans want it both ways, and are hoping voters won’t see through their hypocrisy.

Another frustrating aspect of this vote is the reaction of the “liberal” media. The story posted on CNN.com at 1:39, and was on their home page at that time had disappeared to the politics page by 5:30. This rebuke of the Commander-In-Chief is of historic proportions, but in three hours CNN buried it beneath parents using a cattle prod to calm their autistic son, a man striking oil under his house, a bizarre series of honeybee deaths and copper thieves dying from electrocution.

With news coverage like this, is it any wonder the Republicans are counting on voters to overlook their hypocrisy?

My representatives are 2 for 3 on this one. Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer voted for, and in the House version, Randy Kuhl voted against.