Fortunately, I’m not a politician. I’d never make it, ‘cause I’d say what I think. For instance, if I were to give a speech to Congress today, here’s what I’d say:

Over two centuries ago, Thomas Paine said, “These are times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”

Yesterday, in the House of Representatives, delegates met, and passed one of the most important resolutions in American history. Though a non-binding one, this one resolution – this one vote – says more about the character of the American body politic than hundreds that have gone before. And what we have learned is that Mr. Paine’s words are as true now as they were then, for surely Congress is filled with sunshine patriots.

Yesterday's vote was about a war, but it is much more than that. The abominable resolution passed by the House sends a message that will echo in the halls of history, and will no doubt be recorded as the day that America set its course for decades to come.

There are those in Congress – now a majority, who have elected as their leaders individuals who would say that this war has been based on lies, that it has made America less safe, and that it is a failure. The same voices say that to do so, and indeed to pass this resolution, is not un-American.

I would agree.

They are not un-American. They are, in fact, anti-American.

From the beginning of the war, those same voices called for more troops, stating that the forces currently in Iraq did not have the resources to do the job they were asked to do. And yet now, when an increase in troops is planned, they say that the “escalation” is unwarranted.

Now, a Congressman who served in the United States Marine Corps works to secure a bill that would de-fund the war, compromise his brother and sister Marines, and make the mission all but impossible to achieve. This is the same Congressman who long before accused Marines were placed on trial called them murderers. The saying has been, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.” I say that John Murtha has stopped being a Marine, and has become a politician, a coward, and a traitor. Working to undermine the efforts of U.S. troops, and therefore to harm the country, is and ought to be regarded as treason.

Today, the first female Speaker of the House rejoices in the passage of a Congressional statement to disparage the very move that was advocated by her party long ago. She backs a plan to de-fund the war as a back-door way to force a retreat. Some would call her an advocate for peace. I say that she is a betrayer of those abroad who need our help, a betrayer of U.S. troops, and a traitor. Undermining the authority of the President of the United States, and working to prevent our troops from succeeding, is and ought to be regarded as treason.

So, my liberal friends, rejoice, if you will, in the passage of this resolution. Continue to give voice to the lie that you were put in power by a majority of the American people. Continue to give voice to the lie that 70% of America supports the betrayal of our troops. There are many of us that know the truth.

You were not put in power by a majority of the voters in this country. You were put into power by 40% of the eligible voters in this country. 60% of the eligible voters in this country did not participate. 60% of the eligible voters in this country didn’t see any of you as worth voting for.

The overwhelming majority of Americans do not support immediate withdrawal of the troops. They support a clear agenda, clear milestones, and success. The American people have never supported cowardice. Would that we could say the same about the American Congress..

What you have done today is send a message to the enemy that we are weak. You may couch it any way that you choose, but that is what you have done. You have advised our enemies that we will abandon our efforts, just as they have told their followers that we would . You have given them credibility. You have given them reassurance. You have given them a victory.

What you have done today is send a message to our troops that they are without the support of the leaders of their country. You may sing the old tune that working to abandon military action is a way to support them, but you have abandoned them. A generation ago, people like you lied about another conflict, permitted assaults and insults to our returning troops, and made them feel as if they should be ashamed. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and so you have.

What you have done today is cause fledgling democracies to live in fear, and to lose hope. Iraq has learned today that you see no value in supporting them, and that the American Congress does not keep its promises, for you assured them that you had no intention of abandoning them. Afghanistan has learned that you will tire, that you will abandon them, just as those we went to remove have said. Millions of fingers raised in triumph at the voting booth will tremble in fear, awaiting our departure and the sure retribution they will face in our wake. And every country that looks to us hoping to find a voice for freedom will be disappointed.

You have told the world that we are vulnerable. You have told the world that we do not mean what we say. You have invited our enemies, who will fight to a man, to attack us at will, because we will give in once the war does not go exactly as we would like, once it is more difficult than we had hoped. All they have to do is wait us out.

You have chosen political expediency over good judgment. You have chosen to bow down to the enemy. You have chosen to abandon your military. You have chosen to run from the battlefield with your tail between your legs, all the while calling over your shoulder that you are making a tactical retreat. You have chosen a “non-binding” resolution because it allows you the safety of claiming that you have not directly harmed our troops, but have merely expressed your displeasure at the tactics of the war.

It is a lie.

On the House floor, you have called this war a defeat for the United States. You have referred to our country as warmongering. You have insulted our President. You have vowed to restrict funding so insidiously that you will harm our troops, but be able to say that it was the President who has not met your goals.

You have consistently maligned this country, its military, its very founding principles. You have now given aid and comfort to an enemy who has promised to shed American blood. Someday, you will pay for it.

And sadly, you have likely now doomed us all to pay the price with you.

Had you the decency to feel shame, you would be shrinking away from any light near you, so that good people would not have to look upon your countenances.

Celebrate your victory while you can, for the wolves are at the door, and you have left the key for them. And they will not pause to thank you before they do what evil they intend.

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On a positive note, Chris Shays, the only Congressional Republican from my abysmally left-wing state, voted against the resolution (view his speech here). I've never been particularly fond of him, but he did the right thing, and that should be noted. Thank you, Rep. Shays. Shame on the rest of you.

Tomorrow, Joe Lieberman will not be voting, due to religious constraints.

Senator McCain won't be voting either. He's too busy campaigning. Not sure that's a great statement for what kind of President he'd make, especially when it's coming from a veteran who should know better.

Wanna know how your Rep voted? Go here or here

Don't know who your Rep is? Go here to check first, and then see how they voted.

Wanna let them know what you think about their vote? Go here.

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If you ever vote Republican, and you feel as I do, take The Pledge:

If the United States Senate passes a resolution, non-binding or otherwise, that criticizes the commitment of additional troops to Iraq that General Petraeus has asked for and that the president has pledged, and if the Senate does so after the testimony of General Petraeus on January 23 that such a resolution will be an encouragement to the enemy, I will not contribute to any Republican senator who voted for the resolution. Further, if any Republican senator who votes for such a resolution is a candidate for re-election in 2008, I will not contribute to the National Republican Senatorial Committee unless the Chairman of that Committee, Senator Ensign, commits in writing that none of the funds of the NRSC will go to support the re-election of any senator supporting the non-binding resolution.

Go here to sign your name


We'll likely see today how many Senators earn me keeping my checkbook firmly closed.

Here are 17 Republicans in the House of Representatives who shouldn't see dime one:

Michael Castle (DE),
Howard Coble (NC), a USCG and USCGR vet,
Tom Davis(VA), a US Army and US Army Reserve vet,
John 'Jimmy' Duncan (TN), National Guard and US Army Reserve vet
Philip English (PA),
Wayne Gilchrest (MD),
Bob Inglis (SC),
Tim Johnson (IL),
Walter Jones (NC),
Ric Keller (FL),
Mark Kirk (IL), USNR
Steven LaTourette (OH),
Ron Paul (TX),
Thomas Petri (WI),
Jim Ramstad (MN), US Army and US Army Reserve vet
Fred Upton (MI),
James Walsh (NY)

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UPDATE: NOTR's about as pleased as I am. Uncle Jimbo is too.

Labels: My Two Cents, opinion, politics, The Pledge