Where Is The Courage In The Senate

It is said that the Senate is the "greatest deliberative body in the world." In the vernacular of today: NOT!!

It more resembles the "greatest collection of invertebrates assembled within one chamber."

Today the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 12-9 (in what Reuters called a bi-partisan approval) to send a resolution to the full Senate alerting President Bush to the Senate's opposition to the proposed surge of U.S. troops to Iraq.

Despite Reuters assertion to the contrary the vote was fairly partisan in that 11 Democrats voted against the measure with one Republican, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, joining them and 10 Republicans voting against the resolution. Perhaps Reuters vision of bi-partisanship was enhanced by the specter of Richard Lugar and George Voinovich voting no but straddling the fence by citing their refusal to adopt the measure because it was political in nature (Voinovich) and might send the message we are divided and in disarray (Lugar). If this ain't disarray, I don't know what is!

Troops and serious Americans can take heart in knowing that as bad things can get in the Senate, the pompous bloviators can provide a great deal of humor, even if unintentionlly. Take Chuck Hagel. The empty headed Nebraskan said he was voting for the resolution because the Bush administration was playing ping-pong with "American lives." Why play a table game when you can play a good old political parlor game as Chucky is. The heck with the troops, deliberation and seriousness when sound bites are needed because his job is on the line.

He then said that each of the 100 Senators should have to vote on the tough issues facing them - with non-binding resolutions to show they're up to the task. Hagel said if they could face the tough issues thy should get a safe job, like selling shoes.

This from a man Reuters says is a "presidential possibility". My question to Reuters is; on what planet.

Though, Senators selling shoes is an excellent suggestion for Nebraska voters in Hagels next reelection bid. Vote on a binding resolution to allow Chucky to sell shoes.

more to come....