Q: When is an emergency not an emergency?

A: When George Bush is pulling his "emergency supplemental" ruse once again as the Iraq War goes into its fifth year. A little background:

Now that the House and the Senate have passed emergency appropriations bills to fund the war in Iraq the next step is for members of the House and Senate to come up with a compromise bill. It is hoped a compromise bill can be agreed upon and passed during the week of April 16. Then it goes to President Bush who has sworn loudly and stridently that he will veto it.

This bogus emergency raises far more questions for me than it anwers. And it frustrates the hell out of me that Dems are playing right into Bush's hand in this "emergency" that is no emergency at all.

What does this allow Bush to do?

• Run this war off the books and claim he's still balancing the budget.
• Put a compressed timetable on military expenditures and deployments so as to reduce debate and eliminate scrutiny. And;
• Bash the hell out of Dems -- once again -- for not "supporting" out troops.

Why are the Dems playing into Bush's hand? Why are they allowing an emergency appropriation for a fully-planned and known expenditure? Why should we have to worry that our side will snatch electoral defeat from the hands or Bush's Iraq war "victory"?

Too many questions and not enough answers. Some signs of guts from those on our side who still allow the president to get away with murder.

That's the real emergency here.

(Crossposted and expanded from PeakDems.)

•  The Empire Strikes Back

  Today, Darth Cheney is out talking tough, making threats and acting like Republicans are still in complete control of the universe. They're so heavy handed! I'd love to be able to see his face behind that mask if they can't fund their little pet war anymore. Let the Emperor veto the emergency funding and see what happens. May the force be with us...Always.

  by Takethepowerback06 on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 01:45:55 PM PDT

•  I spoke to the Duffman...

  And also to the Fuddman, and the three of us agree with your assessment.
  Bushco will do anything to make it appear that congress is holding the troops hostage.
  We must welcome them to the collective.
  Resistance is futile.

  by manwithnoname on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 01:57:35 PM PDT

•  I watched Rep. Rangel today

  He pointed out the appropriations bill was a sham.

  He pointed out the bill's loop holes about troop readiness, rest periods between deployments and the Iraq steady progress and the fact that the August 2008 deadline isn't real either. It was on CNN around 8am today.

  by JDWolverton on Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 04:43:40 PM PDT