Sick of the show-boating - show me some substance

The Congressional "action" on war policy is like a bad joke that just runs on and on, never getting to the punch line. I mean, what is the point of this?

House Democratic leaders intend to propose legislation requiring the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the fall of 2008, and even earlier if the Iraqi government fails to meet security and other goals, congressional officials said Wednesday night.

...But Democrats familiar with the emerging legislation said the bill would require President Bush to certify that the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was making progress toward providing for his country's security, allocating its oil revenues and creating a fair system for amending its constitution.

They said if Bush certified the Iraqis were meeting these so-called benchmarks, U.S. combat troops could remain until September of next year. Otherwise, the deadline would move up to the end of 2007.

And we're supposed to believe Bush's certifications - why? Because of his track record of honesty with the American people? Despite being bombarded by their constituents with calls for immediate withdrawal, the Democratic majority has been dickering around for the last ten weeks with proposals that essentially give the administration the "just another two or three six months" that they're asking for. But this little nugget is even more infuriating.

The legislation also calls for the Pentagon to adhere to its standards for equipping and training U.S. troops sent overseas and for providing time at home between tours of combat.

At the same time, it permits Bush to issue waivers of these standards. Democrats described the waiver provision as an attempt to embarrass the president, but their effect would be to permit the administration to proceed with plans to deploy five additional combat brigades to the Baghdad area over the next few months.

And they wonder why the left is profane? What possible response can one make to this ill-advised, politically driven proposal except - what the fuck? We didn't put Democrats back in charge of the Congress to embarrass the President. We put them in to end the president's reckless disregard for our troops' safety. All these Dems who are worried about being seen as abandoning the troops need to get a clue. This back door support of the status quo is not only not supporting the troops, it's ignoring the will of the electorate that put these professional politicians back into the driver's seat of our government.

Excuse me while I go back to work on my dump the incumbents campaign.... I've just about had it with self-absorbed pols who put their re-election strategies ahead of the common good of the people.