For a long time now there have been protests against the President and this country's strategies against the War on Terror in Iraq. This is Democracy at work.
It is also Democracy at work for those that do not protest, who support the President and this country's strategies for fighting the War on Terror in Iraq.
Neither side can claim victory, it's just Democracy at work while the war continues. America can do this because we are a great and powerful nation and we get others things done even in the face of a divisive issue like Iraq.
Now with a new Democratic majority in the House and Senate, new oversight committee hearings about Iraq are taking place. A lot of tough questions are being asked. I'm sure those that are being asked those tough questions are tough enough to endure the questioning, otherwise they must not be the right people in those positions.
There are also a new slate of people running or about to run for President in 2008. Most of them offer no plan for Iraq that they claim can win there. All I hear so far from them is that they disagree with the current President's plan. Until they express their own plan, they have no plan.
Today, tens of thousands of people marched in Washington D.C., to protest the President and express their disdain for his policies. Below is a report from that linked article by one of the political representatives who participated in that protest.
The House Judiciary Committee chairman, Rep. John Conyers, threatened to use congressional spending power to try to stop the war. "George Bush has a habit of firing military leaders who tell him the Iraq war is failing," he said, looking out at the masses. "He can't fire you." Referring to Congress, the Michigan Democrat added: "He can't fire us."
"The founders of our country gave our Congress the power of the purse because they envisioned a scenario exactly like we find ourselves in today. Now only is it in our power, it is our obligation to stop Bush."
It is true that the President can't fire him, other elected political opponents, or, the citizen masses.
It is also true that the President didn't want to listen further to the generals he fired. He doesn't need to listen to Rep. John Conyers. He doesn't need to listen to the protesters who represent a very small minority of Americans.
There is nothing Rep. John Conyers or the protesters can do about that fact. All they can do is protest in their minority numbers. It remains to be seen if they have the ability to cause real change in the legislature to bring about their vision.
The only way the majority in the House and Senate can stop the President in his lawful exercise of executive power (power approved by the legislature in overwhelming majority a few years ago) is to stop the funding for the war.
But those against the President should have the courage to try to do that, if they have any validity to their position. Why aren't those that are running for President who want our troops home now, submitting legislation to stop the funding of the war?
Are any of the Presidential candidates willing to promise to cede executive powers granted in the Constitution back to the legislative branch if they are elected? Are they electable if they promise to do that?
I don't think that will happen. The President knows that too.
Even if the majority in the legislature prevents the funding for troops, he can and will find other ways to fund the troops in Iraq. There is plenty of money floating around the federal government to allow that borrowing of funds. The President has the Constitutional authority to administer funds as the Chief Executive. It's part of those checks and balances we often hear about built into the Constitution.
Let's say the legislature passes binding resolutions that are in opposition to the President's plans. It's pretty certain he'll veto them. I don't believe there will be enough votes to override that veto in that scenario.
So all of what the protesters are accomplishing is for naught. All the calls for doing something to bring the troops home are for naught.
The War in Iraq will continue at least until the next President is elected. Those that are running for President need to express their plan and promise to act on it if elected.
I doubt that we will hear any plans soon from them. You know why? Because they have no alternative plan that will be acceptable to the majority of the American public.
The President knows this and so, he'll keep to his plan. He's the Decider on troops in Iraq or any other place he wants them to be, just like he said recently. What he said is true because his opponents don't have the votes, nor the political will at this time to decide otherwise.
Expect more protests, but little else from the opposition to the President and his plans. It's Democracy at work, just like our Founding Fathers intended.
7:29:52 PM 
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