This week, the GOP Leadership in the House and Senate carped with glee at the votes they were scheduling. It would seem that they were going to force the Democrats to take a stand on Iraq.
And the legislation, or rather, nonbinding resolution they were so gleeful about went something like this:
We support the troops, and as such, All Hail our Supreme Leader, George W. Bush, and his wise plans to stay the course in Iraq."
The same thing happened after Congressman John Murtha first announced his desire for the U.S. to immediately begin to redeploy our forces from Iraq last year.
Instead of voting yes or no on such faustian deals, instead of being painted into a corner by dishonest power-mad Republicans, Democrats should simply abstain from voting, or they should vote 'present.'
And in so doing, all they need to say is the following:
Today's resolution (or vote) is nothing but a political dirty trick manufactured by the dishonest and disingenuous leaders of the Republican Majority. They are not interested in debate. They are only interested in poltical tricks and games. They are only interested in wasting your, the American people's time and money. After all, you elect us as your representatives and Senators and you send us here to do your work.
You do not send us here to waste your money and time. You expect us to get something done. You expect us to do our jobs. And we have a lot to do. We have a myriad of problems facing Americans today. The disaster that is the Prescription Drug Plan; millions without any kind of health insurance, rising inflation and interest rates, rising gas prices, an energy crisis that threatens our very way of life, an ever growing budget deficit thanks entirely to the fiscally reckless and wasteful Republican majority, an ever growing national debt, which will put a stranglehold on your children and grandchildren and greatgrandchildren; and a never ending quagmire in Iraq, where our beloved troops' mission is not clear other than to be targets for an ever growing insurgency.
We Democrats are ready to work. To do the jobs you sent us here to do. Unfortunately, the Republicans are not. They are only here to play games. They have no desire to tackle the many problems we face. They are only here to give divisive speeches. They are only here to provoke fear. They are only here to rubberstamp anything George W. Bush wants. They do not care what you want.
Therefore, we Democrats will not playing with the Republicans' today, or ever. We are not here to play games. We grew up long ago. We will simply wait until such time as these children are ready to work. Thank you.
Senator Reid. Congresswoman Pelosi. Your respective caucauses elected you both to lead them. To be their voice. To be our voice. For God's sake, Lead.
Stop being civil. Stop being cooperative. Stop being compromising. When faced with such a false choice as my above described Republican resolution, do not do not vote for or against it.
Abstain.
(And don't forget to make my speech. Yeah, you can have it).