You all know the good news. Beginning in January there will no longer be a republican congressional rubber stamp. The bad news is that the democrats will have a majority in congress.
With this situation the pleasure of political opining will be doubled. For the past 6 years the republicans have been sitting ducks. There have been daily opportunities to point out their stupidities, foibles and immoral behavior. To be honest they are getting a bit boring. While we will still have the daily disaster of bush we will get the added pleasure of fresh meat in congress.
Gosh, they aren’t even waiting until January. At least one senior democrat wants to bring back the draft:
U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, the incoming chairman of the House of Representatives’ tax-writing committee, said he would introduce legislation to reinstate the draft as soon as the new, Democratic-controlled Congress convenes in January.
Asked on CBS’ “Face the Nation” if he was still serious about the proposal for a universal draft he raised a couple of years ago, he said, “You bet your life. Underscore serious.”
“If we’re going to challenge Iran and challenge North Korea and then, as some people have asked, to send more troops to Iraq, we can’t do that without a draft,” he said.
Rangel, who opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq, also said he did not think the United States would have invaded Iraq if the children of members of Congress were sent to fight. He has said the U.S. fighting force is comprised disproportionately of people from low-income families and minorities.It is a bit ironic that the party, or at least one if its current leaders, that brought us the Vietnam war and riots on the street in opposition to the draft now wants to bring the draft back.
rangel’s proposal may be nothing more than a ploy to try to reinvigorate antiwar sentiment by tying it back together with the draft. Unfortunately he might get what he asks for not what he may be wishing for and is there any doubt bush would sign such legislation? What a treat for him. No more worry about recruitment rates getting in the way of a supply of bodies and he can blame the dems.
rangel also argues:
“I don’t see how anyone can support the war and not support the draft. I think to do so is hypocritical,” he said.
Supporting the war and not supporting a draft is not hypocritical. The latter, in fact, is a position all those who believe in freedom should support.
In the case of war supporters, well, they should all be automatically noted as volunteers for military service. No draft needed.
Also curious is why a black congress person would argue to bring back slavery…