Lately, there's been a lot of discussion about Congress' ability to control Bush and his insane desire to throw ever more young men and women into body bags in Iraq. Many options are discussed, but fundamentally people don't seem to have much hope that Bush would obey any laws that Congress passes. It seems that any solution proposed is denounced by pointing out that Bush will ignore it. Often, this is used as justification for impeachment, because Bush doesn't leave us any other options.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for impeachment (immediately, if not sooner). However, in my opinion, all the discussion so far has focused on a narrow range of possibilities: defund the troops, place a cap on troop numbers in Iraq. Those are fine possibilities, but as everyone knows it leaves Democrats vulnerable to "not supporting the troops" attacks. Yet, there are many other options that could be used to pressure Bush without placing a single soldier in more harm than he already is in. The Power of the Purse is far more powerful than most people seem to understand.
I have no doubts that none of these ideas would even make it to committee. I merely present them to show the possibilities of what could be possible if we had a Congress capable of leadership and daring.
Read More
