What I learned from Congress today.

[Skidmore]

We had a tableau of oversight with Congressional hearings today, with various congressional committees pretending like they are exercising oversight of the DoD.

I learned mostly that Rummy needs more money--a whole lot more, unquantifiable and well into the future. That everthing is going swimmingly, except when it isn't. And did I mention that DoD need more money and lots of it. Neither civilian or brass administrators can really explain how they have expended and are currently expending funds; and apparently have some nebulous, pie-in-the-sky plan by which they will spend all that money they need. Did I mention they need money and lots of it? All our soldiers are the best trained and outfitted in the world, except when they are not. The Iraqis are ready to stand up except that if we stand down, the military may not get more money. They need more money--lots. And, oh, though we don't want to upset the ongoing political process (huh?) with the Israel-Lebanon conflict, we probably will have to commit troops and rebuild the Lebanese military. That takes money. Oh, goody, we have something else that needs funding.

Congressional committees pretty much said "good job, boys" and "thank you for your service" and "ya'll have brilliant leadership down there at the Pentagon" and "sure--you can have all the money you want; we'll be sure to find it for you." Along with this were the unspoken "We trust ya not to tell us of any problems--outtsight, outta mind" and "I'm scared shitles one of you is going to call us unpatriotic."

After several hours of this type begging by the "guys in the white hat" routine, I told my teeve, "F-you." Sure, a couple of people here and there asked tough question. But, then, there's that endless line of Republicans lined up to smooch Rummy butt and stroke his...errr...ego.

I don't know about the rest of ya'll but I'm sick of seeing good hardearned money in this nation going down that cesspool called the Pentagon. I'm tired of seeing our children's future blowing up in the dust of the ME for the sake of the vestiges of the 19th century oil fiefdoms. I'm sick of us supporting dictatorships and theocracies all to keep a few gluttonous corporations afloat. We can do better than this.

VOTE THEM OUT!

[Sherman A1]

1. Agreed

Very good summation of our Congressional Representatives work.

[annabanana]

2. k&r. . . . . n/t

[ixion]

4. Second that...

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Agreed. There is no excuse for spending $600 billion a year on a

military that couldn't or wouldn't defend the country on Sept. 11, 2001. Let Rummy hold a bake sale.

[liberalmuse]

5. Amen.

There's only about a handful (if that) of decent representatives in DC. The rest of the self-serving bastids/beyotches need to be kicked out. They are an utter disgrace. Anytime I read about Congress, or see them in inaction, I feel this overwhelming need to shower.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. I learned what a shitheel sycophant Sen. Warner is.

He seemed to allow glowing compliments to flow from the GOP to Rummie, but start to pin his hole-eness down, and oops, no more time.

[Rex]

7. When we place value on objects over people, we move down the

path to eventual destruction. History proves this. America will pull a USSR one day - just flat run out of money. Credit was a way to extent our livelihoods and even it can't sustain our forced consumerism. Nothing can.

Money over people always spells longterm failure.

[zeemike]

8. Well maybe all they need is more money

And then maybe things will go better
What do we care anyhow, it is our children and grand children that will pay. They don't give a shit about them as long as they get theirs now.