The Russ Belts.

Today we tune in to find one of our very own Senators, Russ Feingold, (D-Wis.) in the national news.

And again he endeavors to torment the Bush White House before their January 20th trip back to Texas, or Kennebunkport, or wherever it is they claim residency.

Feingold, along with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has proposed a bill that would stop payment for combat operations in Iraq by June.

I chose to highlight this bit of news because it harkens back to our recent reading on Congress and the President, in terms of WHO exactly has WHAT powers regarding the Making of War.

As mentioned in the reading, and as we all know, the President is the "Commander in Chief;" he/she is top leader of the military. Congress controls the military money, and Feingold is making that point very clear with this bill.

In essence, Feingold is telling the President, "show me something (by way of progress in Iraq) or I'm cutting off the cash for your project."

It's worthy of mention that Feingold and the Democrats make absolutely no effort disguise their slim hopes of actually getting this bill passed. They know, and have essentially said as much, that this thing is gonna fly like a lead balloon. (Like a Brett Favre pass on cold January night. In front a nationally televised audience. In overtime. With a shot at the Super Bowl at stake.)

But, feeling that they now hold the stronger hand in this debate, Senate Republicans have called Feingold's bluff and allowed his bill to proceed.

Post-surge Iraq, and Baghdad in particular, looks downright El Doradoian to the Republicans and they want the opportunity to tell Americans that Iraq is gonna be alright.

Who says Politics is boring?

On either side of the aisle, this is a symbolic, strategic, insincere move down to its very core. Looks like somebody's readying some issues to bring home to voters and campaign on.
How Rovian of them.

NOTE: Midway through the report, the radio host mentions a "test vote," on the bill to gauge support for it ahead of time. I'd never heard of that tactic, maybe something for discussion in class.



And, if you'd prefer to read than listen, I've also included here a link to an New York Times print story about the same move by Feingold.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/iraq-returns-to-the-stage-in-congress/

Another link:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17982862