http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_6886.shtml
Jun 17, 2005
President Bush faces increasing opposition to his war in Iraq not only
from the American people, but also from both Republicans and Democrats
in Congress but the stubborn President continues to defy those who
dare oppose him with threats of vetoes and arbitrary punishment and
depends on blind support from GOP Congressional leaders to club
opposition into submission.
With polls showing support for the Iraq war at a record low, members
of Congress from both parties are becoming increasingly vocal about
their desire for an exit strategy.
The latest example came Thursday as a conservative, a moderate, a
liberal and a libertarian teamed up in the House to try and set a
timetable to withdraw from Iraq, a rare tone of unity in the
politically-divided House.
Sponsored by Reps. Walter B. Jones Jr. (R-N.C.), Neil Abercrombie
(D-Hawaii), Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Ron Paul (R-Tex.), the
resolution calls for Bush to begin drawing down troops in Iraq by Oct.
1, 2006, but does not set a date for complete withdrawal.
Jones voted for the war, sits on the Armed Services Committee and
represents the huge Marine base at Camp Lejeune.
He said he believes that in the long run, his constituents "will think
that we as a nation have a responsibility to take a fresh look" at
goals for Iraq.
Abercrombie sees a parallel to Vietnam in that "military action is
becoming its own political policy," and said the "Homeward Bound"
legislation was written to avoid blame and generate bipartisan
support.
But Republican leaders continue to back Bush without question.
When House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) tried to introduce an
amendment to a military spending bill that would have given the
president 30 days to show Congress criteria for determining when U.S.
forces could withdraw from Iraq GOP leaders blocked it.
The legislative jockeying comes during contentious debate on domestic
securing, stemming from the president's call for Congress to renew 15
provisions of the controversial, rights-robbing USA Patriot Act that
are set to expire at the end of the year.
A hearing on the Patriot Act last Friday ended in turmoil when
dictatorial Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr.
(Wis.) became irritated by a stream of criticism of the administration
and gaveled the session to an end.
Sensenbrenner, under heavy criticism from Democrats, admitted he had
"adjourned the hearing in a manner inconsistent with the spirit of
comity that has and should continue to inform committee deliberations"
but, in typical GOP attack fashion, blamed the Democrats.
"This grossly unfair and distorted depiction of my conduct demands
correction," he said.
Republicans leapt to their feet with applause and cheers of "Hoaaaa!"
in a display that looked more like a high school pep rally than the
floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Sensenbrenner was pissed over a resolution of disapproval proposed by
a committee Democrat, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.).
The committee's ranking Democrat, Rep. John Conyers Jr. (Mich.),
expressed shock during the hearing at Sensenbrenner's "hostility"
toward lawmakers and witnesses.
"I've never, ever experienced a witness being stopped dead in
mid-sentence," said Conyers, a 40-year member of the House.
Scandal-ridden House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), under
investigation for fraud and misuse of campaign funds, sat issued a
statement calling Sensenbrenner "well respected" and saying that his
work on the Patriot Act has been "conducted in a fair, bipartisan, and
comprehensive manner."
Republicans then killed Nadler's resolution.
But Bush faces other problems over Britian's infamous "Downing Street
Memo" that shows the President was determined to invade Iraq with or
without evidence to support his war.
A recent Gallup poll of 1,003 adults found that 59% of Americans favor
partial or total withdrawal.
In another sign of ebbing support, 42% said they felt that the war was
worth it, down from a high of 76% in the war's early days.
In another slap at Bush, the House Appropriations subcommittee on
foreign operations slashed a White House foreign-aid request, cutting
$1.25 billion from the $3 billion the President had sought for the
Millennium Challenge Account for developing countries.
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Harry
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