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!