Wednesday, April 07, 2004
How to force the Administration to get serious
I keep looking back to the $87 billion appropriation--that was the last time Congress had any opportunity to exercise some oversight on this war. And, in how ever small part because the D Senate leadership agreed to a voice vote, they pissed that opportunity away. We NEEDED to say, then, that there would be ongoing oversight over contracting, guarantees that Iraqis would be brought into reconstruction, and guarantees that the troops would get what they need--like body armor.
So I wonder, how do we get another shot at that oversight? Do we have to wait unil November 4, when BushCO will ask for another $50 billion? Or do we get a nice bipartisan group to stall all funding (we could start with the highway bill) until the incompetent administration allows congress to serve in its constitutionally mandated oversight role.
Of course, at this late date, I'm not sure what good it will do. But perhaps we can avoid this turning into the Iraqi intifada?? Perhaps we can prevent the massacring of civilians??
So I wonder, how do we get another shot at that oversight? Do we have to wait unil November 4, when BushCO will ask for another $50 billion? Or do we get a nice bipartisan group to stall all funding (we could start with the highway bill) until the incompetent administration allows congress to serve in its constitutionally mandated oversight role.
Of course, at this late date, I'm not sure what good it will do. But perhaps we can avoid this turning into the Iraqi intifada?? Perhaps we can prevent the massacring of civilians??
