In point of fact, I am a CRITIC of the DC Dems' disappointingly toothless Iraq Supplemental bill. I remain COMPLETELY UNIMPRESSED by the often proffered "It Is The Best We Could Do®" apologia for Bush-enabling.
The 'Trial Ballon' talk of totally giving in to Bush on a veto is just plain UNFORGIVABLE.
However, I am not just a critic.
I recently made this post regarding the kind of response a Dems could make to a Presidential Veto of the Iraq Supplemental.
Now I am improving it and once again inviting the Kos-o-sphere to make further improvements on it.
The plan has two objectives:
- To make Bush think twice about vetoing the current Iraq Supplemental bill because it is the best he's gonna get.
- To pointedly and repeatedly place the onus on Bush, and MORE IMPORTANTLY the Bush-enablers of any label for the continuation of the Iraq Occupation War. Make them vote early and often against the will of the American people.
Follow me over the jump for a restatement of the "Plan with a Spine®" and some improvements...
"Plan with a Spine®" Version 2.0
BEFORE doing the original 5 things:
1a) Immediately pass a 30 day continuing resolution for no more than $10 billion funding both the Afghan and Iraq operations at current levels. Make sure to let the American people know that the Dems will not let our troops do without.
Then the promised restatement [slightly modified]:
- Split the Afghanistan and Iraq portions of the funding into two bills. The Bushiter relys on people who support Afghanistan to help him out on Iraq which is not nearly as popular. So let's DIVIDE them!
- De-pork all the bills. Announce that nobody should vote for the bills to get pork for their pet donors until "the troops come first'. Another excuse to veto the new bills [goes] down the 'intertubes'.
- Pass the Afghanistan funding bill. This should be easy, after all, who is going to vote against Afghanistan? Not many on either side of the aisle.
- Pass the Iraq Withdrawal Funding Bill. No benchmarks, timetables, timelines, or any other [so-called] 'micromanagement' of 'Bushiter's Folly' other than to say it is only to be used for withdrawal from Iraq [whenever The Commander-in-Chief decides to begin a withdrawal]. There is no reason to fight this bill because there are no benchmarks, timelines, timetables, yadda-yadda in there to fight over.
- Pass a 30-day continuing resolution for no more than $10 billion. Announce that Mr. Bush is very welcome to come back to the hill to regale congress with his tales of success, school painting, purple fingers and whatnot. And he is more than welcome ask for more money when he comes. Of course, congress has other business to do, so his signing of name-that-bill would go a long way towards getting his next round of blood money passed.
Here is the improved language designed to improve the Democrats hand in the Senate, so I used Harry Reid as making the announcement, however, I believe that Nancy Pelosi could profitably use something very similar in the House.
AND... another improvement (to enable the Senate to transact the continuing resolutions in a timely manner:
5a) (Add to 5 above). Harry Reid announces the promise to bring up the next continuing resolution the first 'Business Day' one week after passage of the 'last one'. Only the Dates will be allowed to change.
Every Senator knows what is in this bill by unanimous consent or it will be read three times. The Republicans will get one hour to debate the bill. INDEPENDENTs who want to SUPPORT the continuing resolution get one hour. Dems who want to SUPPORT the continuing resolution will get one hour. Anybody who requests time to DEFEAT the bill gets a no more than one hour. The time is purposely stacked in favor of the supporters.
Then "Every Senator Is Free to Vote Their Conscience".
The Dem Leadership will not whip the continuing resolution. The Dem Leadership will NOT support a filibuster of the continuing resolution. The Dem Leadership will expose any procedural tricks to block the continuing resolution and the identity of any 'tricksters'.
The vote is held as soon as the debate period is completed.
Please consider recommending this Diary so that more Kosotopians can provide their input.
--Lefty!!!