Sirotablog

David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. David writes about political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties.

  • September 4, 2007 9:53 AM

    When Protecting the D.C. "Grownups" Is More Important Than Protecting America

    There is an extremely important post over at ColoradoPols that provides a vivid look at just how sad and cynical our political process really has become. The author suggests that Senate Democrats move to embrace a toothless piece of legislation that does not a single thing to end the Iraq War is actually a "vindication" worthy of congratulations. No, really - I'm not joking.

    Citing Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar's Iraq bill that is non-binding and does absolutely nothing, ColoradoPols nonetheless says that Senate Democrats potentially backing off their push for binding legislation and embracing Salazar's toothless tiger is the pinnacle of courage, which the majority of Americans opposing the war should loudly applaud (Oh, but he reminds us, he's not really trying to gloat - as if he has every right to gloat for supporting a legislative strategy that prolongs a war bringing more and more Americans home in body bags...).

    Like Fox News, he implies that the only people who want to see binding legislation to end the war are "antiwar liberals" - despite polls that show the overwhelming majority of Americans oppose the war. He then asks whether these "antiwar liberals" will "allow the grownups in the Senate to work out a bipartisan solution to Iraq?" - not mention once - not a single time - that Salazar's bill is non-binding and does nothing to end the war. This bill from the supposed "grownups" is, in fact, the opposite of a "solution" - it is a bill to prolong the war because it gives wavering Republicans a way to say they voted to end the war, when they did nothing of the sort.

    But the details, alas, are not what's nauseating about the attitude embodied in the ColoradoPols' post. No, what is truly sickening is that anyone would have the nerve to look at a bill that doesn't end the war and claim that because it may be a victory for politicians in the Washington game, that it is a "vindication." Forget about troops dying, forget about how our own government says the war is hurting U.S. national security, because in our political system, cynicism rules and the moves that must garner the highest praise are not those that actually express the public's will, but those that take heat off "the grownups" who populate the Senate Club. How sad - and how sadly predictable from a political culture so obviously afflicted by a debilitating case of Partisan War Syndrome.

    Really, what a "vindication" - if we have any more "vindications" like this, we may have even more American casualties.

    Posted by David Sirota
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    Tags: Iraq

Discussion

  • TJ Colatrella [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    We had better wake up to the fact that we are going to War with Iran..!

    Long before any Troops really leave Iraq Bush will start WWIII and attack Iran which will be a huge regional if not world war once it's through..!

    This will make Iraq look like the pre-game show..!


    Also He will enact NSPD-51 and Executive order 14348 and create a full true fascist Dictatorship and the swine pigs of the Federalist Society that are the majority of The Supreme Court will uphold this..

    Blackwater is already threatening blacks on New Orleans and deploying in Southern California our own American black shirts..!

    Better wake the hell up America and why aren't the Democratic Candidates telling the truth about this tyranny and growing fascism over taking our nation..?

    Posted on September 4, 2007 11:00 AM
  • spankinrankin [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    Colorado is liberal in pale comparison to Mississippi. Most of the papers and politics in this state never changes. Just yesterday, an armed criminal was let go by the police after the police found out that the shooter was a staunch Bush supporter shooting at a car with an "Impeach Bush" sticker. In MS, you'll be lucky to get away with a sneer for showing your opposition to this ILLEGAL war. The conservative voters who disapprove of Bush are actually wishing that Bush hurry up and bomb Iran despite the fact that these same voters will be strangled even more economically at home as a result of yet another ILLEGAL war.

    P.S.: Currently, faux "history" pamphlets are being distributed in schools portraying Bush as "saving" America better than FDR ! Moreover, in high schools and colleges, if a man or woman is soddamized/raped and that victim is found to be opposing the war in Iraq, the rapist/soddamizer is not only set "free" but is in fact hailed as a "hero fighting for justice" !! Makes one wonder if God even exists anymore !!!

    Posted on September 4, 2007 12:48 PM
  • waltc [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    From the looks of it, the Bush admin has a full-scale propaganda offensive going on in regards to the surge and permament military presence in the area. And so far the Democrats have done nothing to counter it, even the Democrat preznit hopefuls are becomming more vague and less strident on Iraq.

    Not one Democrat has had the guts to come on TV and say what CNN's Michael Ware has said repeatedly that Iraq is a failed state and that Iran is calling the shots.

    Instead they couch things in vague and mealy mouthed terms even though a majority of people are against the war.

    Here's a tip for Democrats. It doesn't hurt to speak the truth in blunt terms to the American people when it comes to Iraq and repeat it until the GOP implodes.

    Posted on September 4, 2007 1:50 PM
  • Frederick Johnson [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    spankinrankin,

    That's about the same kind of backwardness going on in South Carolina. Even today, you'll hear and see one too many voters shout that "It's important to impeach a president on his sexual misconduct and not on his decision to go to war with Iraq!"

    Let's face it. We the voters put these shitheads into office to begin with but even when we vote them out, there are always near-clone backups regardless of which of the two parties they come from. That said, it's hard for me to be surprised when a great deal of this country especially the rural South and Midwest would much rather stick to the GOP who they know regardless.

    P.S.: In today's Washington Post, a multinational corporation Saudi Binladin Group Denies Liability for 9/11 . Don't worry though, just like five years ago , the government will clear them of all charges and give them "aid" with our taxpayer money.

    Posted on September 4, 2007 8:44 PM

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