Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

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Democrats wimp out, change little

Nearly a year ago, in November 2006, a change in direction on Capitol Hill in Washington seemed to be looming large. Democrats had just taken over the Senate, as well as control in the House, giving them complete control of Congress for the first time since those good ole Clinton years of 1994. Republicans had been booted because many of the American people had grown tired of hearing about another controversy in Washington and especially the rising costs — both human and monetary — in Iraq.

The elated Democrats made vows and promises. New Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced, "The days of the do-nothing Congress are over. … [Americans spoke] clearly and decisively in favor of Democrats leading this country in a new direction." Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said, "This new Democratic majority has heard the voices of the American people."

So far these promises, in regard to the war in Iraq, have not been fulfilled.

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Earlier this week, The New York Times reported that, after bashing the Bush administration's surveillance program endlessly, Democrats look as if they are going to concede and go along with Mr. Bush by extending "crucial powers given to the National Security Agency" for eavesdropping on American citizens. The bill would give a sweeping warrant to the security agency instead of requiring it to get specific warrants as is usually required.

Since they've been in power in Congress, Democrats have been speaking of the need to stop the futile war in Iraq, get our troops back home and cut down on the powers of the president. But when it comes down to crunch time, they roll over and give the administration pretty much anything it wants: the unabated right to continue eavesdropping on citizens and a $120 billion bill to continue the war in Iraq, in which they also abandoned their call for most U.S. troops to leave Iraq.

Experts have attributed this unwillingness to take a strong stand against the administration to the fact that Democrats fear they would be viewed as "soft on terrorism" if they were to slow funding to our troops or cut down on Mr. Bush's powers to collect intelligence. But how about this? According to two ABC News/Washington Post polls conducted in September, 68 percent of Americans disapprove of the way Mr. Bush is handling the situation in Iraq, as well as 57 percent who disapprove of the way he is handling the U.S. campaign against terrorism in general. Why are Democrats so scared of slipping in the polls if a solid majority is actually against the policies they are voting to continue? Democrats in Congress need to stand up for the principles they have been preaching even before their elections and forget about a percentage point they may lose here or there because of their actions.

Granted, some bills concerning the war have been approved by Congress only to be stopped by the veto pen of a stubborn president. But this is hardly an excuse. Democrats need to come up with the solutions and results that they promised us when they came to power.

Sixty-six American soldiers died in September; ten already have lost their lives in October. I haven't even mentioned the $275 million we spent on it — yesterday! According to the National Priority Project, the taxpayers of Madison alone have dished out more than $270 million, for a war the Democrats continue to endorse in practice, even though in principle they claim not to.

I thought Congress was going to lead us in a "new direction" and "listen to the people."

Well, we're waiting.

Impatiently.

Henry Weiner ([email protected]) is a sophomore majoring in political science.

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