Redstate

(Sending a message? I hope the troops aren't listening.)

By Mark Kilmer Posted in War — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

The Democrats have introduced their ant-Bushie war resolution, vowing support for our troops – fingers crossed – and slipping them the verbal knife. It will not do anything, but the Democrats want, in the words of Carl Levin, to "send a powerful message" that they are disgruntled. They might send that powerful message, but it would go straight to the troops.

John Boehner, Roy Blunt and the rest of the House GOP leadership wanted to have debate on their alternative, H.R. 511, introduced by Sam Johnson of Texas. His resolution, as non-binding as anything else, would put the House on record as pledging not to defund our troops during wartime.

Read On…

"This resolution is the first step in the Democrats' plan to cut off funding for American troops who are in harm's way, and their leaders have made this abundantly clear," Boehner said in a release yesterday. "If Democrats are serious about supporting our troops, they will allow Republicans to offer a substantive alternative that binds the Congress to an unwavering and unambiguous commitment to fund the American men and women who wear our uniform."

On Monday, the Democrats voted not to debate any Republican resolution, including Representative Johnson's pledge of support for our troops.

Johnson, who was missing a dinner commemorating the 34th anniversary of his release from a prisoner-of-war camp in Vietnam, was one of five Republicans who testified in front of the committee.

"I know that the proposed resolution will undermine the morale of our troops," Johnson said. "If you all are serious about supporting our troops, you would allow Republicans to offer my amendment as an alternative that ensures Congress never waivers in our commitment to fund the American men and women in uniform." [emphasis mine, as it is of vital importance for us to remember Sam Johnson's sacrifice while we ponder this attempt to dishonor [see Obama, Barack] the service of others.]

The article from The Hill linked first -- and here -- contains a quote from then-minority leader Nancy Pelosi. These are the words she uttered when the Republicans were about to pass a Iraq-GWOT resolution, H.Res. 861, in June of 2006:

"It's really unfortunate, as the president contends that we are fighting for democracy in Iraq, that we can't have democracy on the House floor. No open rule. No amendments. No Democratic alternative allowed," Pelosi said.

The resolution passed the house, 256-153. Republican Walter Jones of North Carolina, the Republican co-sponsor of this week's craven legislation, voted PRESENT on that measure.

On Monday, Jones spat:

"I'm of the firm belief that the American people spoke in November, and I think the largest percentage of the people that voted to put you in the majority are speaking out against the war in Iraq, quite frankly."

For that reason, that Jones (again, R-North Carolina) has a shaky and whimsical belief that the Democrats won a small majority in Congress last November solely because the American people do not like how the Iraq war had been handled up to that point and oppose a change in the conduct of the war which was not proposed for two months after they voted. That's a major stretch, Congressman.

Jones has either lost his mind or is angling for a spot in a fellow North Carolinian John Edwards Administration. How many Americas are there, Congressman Jones? Do you support either?

This is a sad farce, and I hope that the American people will see just what they have in this Democratic-controlled Congress. The GOP had their faults when in control, but it was nothing this base.