Mullings An American Cyber Column By Rich Galen

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All the Way to the Bank?

Wednesday February 14, 2007

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Dear Mr. Mullings

From Juneau, Alaska
Lincoln Day Dinner

As predicted last week in MULLINGS, the Democrats in the US House have wrested the non-binding Iraq Resolution out from of the folds of the togas of their colleagues in the US Senate and floor debate has begun.

Originally, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer had promised that the GOP would, according to Julie Davis' reporting for the Associated Press, "have a chance to offer their own measure," but Hoyer - realizing he was being led into a trap " reversed course over the weekend" and (using the same strong-arm tactics they properly complained about when Republicans ruled) decided that only the Democratic version would come to the floor.

The resolution on which Republican Leader John Boehner (pronounced BAY-ner) wanted a vote would have committed Congress to continue funding US troops in Iraq; putting, in effect, our money where the Democrats' mouths are.

But many Democrats - especially those who were elected last November from Republican or marginal districts - know that it is one thing to puff up and say they're against sending 21,000 more troops; it's something else again to say they're going to put those troops at higher risk by cutting off their funding.

Thus, the reason Hoyer and Pelosi had to - once again - go back on their campaign promise of a more evenhanded management of the legislative agenda was because it would have exposed them for using the war in Iraq purely for political gain.

Again, from Davis' AP report:

"[M]any Democrats in the House might support a resolution committing Congress to continue paying for U.S. troops in Iraq. Afraid that might muddle their message opposing President George W. Bush's Iraq policy, party leaders are not giving their rank and file the opportunity."

Got that? The House Democratic Leadership is more concerned about opposing President Bush than they are helping to make certain the troops will continue to be able to do their jobs.

Where is the outrage among the senior political reporters? Where are the damning editorials from the major papers? Where is � ah, nevermind.

Boehner gets high marks for not only coming up with (as Baldrick might have put it in a Black Adder episode) this cunning plan, but also for having the capacity to push it forward within the Republican Conference and outward to a skeptical press corps.

On "Meet the Press" this past Sunday, when John Boehner complained to Steny Hoyer (who was seated right next to him) about going back on his promise, Hoyer responded with "Poor John."

Good one, Steny.

Back in 2004, Hoyer, who was then House Minority Whip, complained about Democrats not having the opportunity to present an alternative to a resolution, according to Jackie Kucinich writing in "The Hill" newspaper, "relating to the liberation of the Iraqi people":

"On a matter of the highest national importance, the majority has undermined the democratic process in this House, treated those who hold different views with disdain, and created a bludgeon where it should have built a bridge."

Two years later, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi whined about another Iraq-related resolution which came to the floor without allowing for a Democratic alternative:

"[A]s the President contends that we are fighting for democracy in Iraq, we can't have democracy on the House floor. No open rule. No amendments. No Democratic alternative allowed."

How the worms have turned.

Boehner has not invented the fact that it is the desire of a large number of Democrats to cut money for the troops. Freshman Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) told the AP "there is 'no consensus on funding' among Democrats."

According to Boehner spokesman Brian Kennedy, the debate will continue through Wednesday and Thursday culminating, on Friday morning, in a vote on the Democratic version. Only.

John Boehner aims to smoke out the Democrats on just how far they are willing to take their anti-war rhetoric.

All the way to the bank?

On the Secret Decoder Ring page today: Links to the AP and Hill Newspaper articles and an explanation of that "cunning plan" line; also a Mullfoto from Juneau, Alaska and a Catchy Caption of the Day which makes fun of Al Gore - always a crowd favorite.

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