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Sunday, November 19, 2006

Charlie is Rangling to Reinstate the Draft

Charles Rangle said on CBS's Face the Nation that he would again work to introduce legislation that would reinstate the military draft.

He feels that the military is currently unable to enter into a war with Iran and North Korea.

Congressman Rangel has introduced draft bills in the past which were not accepted.  Most Americans oppose a draft.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Rumsfeld:Wins War, Loses Peace, Loses Election

Secretary Rumsfeld is resigning following the Republican losses of the 2006 midterm elections.  Rumsfeld was initially applauded for a swift victory in Iraq despite failing to head the advice of decades of military planning that called for an invasion force three times larger than the one used.A joking President Bush during a Press conference disclosing Rumsefelds Resignation

The initial swift victory was soon seen as a war that was won but a Peace that was lost.   Many feel that if Rumsfeld had taken the advice of military planners and utilized a force much larger that Iraq would have still been relieved of Saddam Hussein, but terrorists may not have been able to seize bastions of control.  Many also feel that if Weapons of mass destruction were present, locking down the country immediately after the invasion and locking down the borders would have prevented speculation that the weapons technology was secreted away to neighboring Syria or Iran.

Republicans lost the House of Representatives in an election that focused on the war in Iraq and even more so on Republicans that lost their reform instincts in favor of pork barrel spending and turning a blind eye to defense spending.  Democrats picked off every single Republican incumbent that had scandalous issues exposed running up to the election.  This gave Democrats an easy 8 seats out of the 15 that they picked up.

It won't be known for several weeks, but it could possibly also give the Democrats control over the Senate.

Rumsfeld was applauded for his initial military reformist style and his heroic personal efforts during the attacks on 9/11.  He later exhibited signs of being unable to adapt to changes on the ground in Iraq.  He also did not take personal responsibility for the torture and abuse that occurred under his command.  At the end of the day his brilliant battle strategy was trumped by his brilliant battle strategy, which could not foresee the needs of peace making and occupation.  He planned for a battle and ultimately lost a war.  Rumsfeld did not lose the election for Republicans.  Republicans did that to themselves. 

This election is probably less about what Democrats can do and more about what Republicans completely failed to do. 

They failed to reign in spending, they failed to maintain reform, they failed to win the peace in Iraq, and they are failing to achieve victory in the War on Terror. 

Can you Say Automatic Recount?

That's right the election is almost over and its just about time to start the recount.  This year the lucky winner of the recount seems to be Virginia.  CNN is almost ready to call it that Virginia is automatically destined to have a recount in the Senate race there.

The Republican - George Allen (Incumbent and former Governor)  he was once thought to be a likely Presidential Candidate until he was caught on video lambasting the person holding the video camera, calling that person Macaca.

v.

The Democrat - James Webb is a former Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan and a veteran of the Vietnam War.

The race there will come down to a margin of victory of less than 1% no matter who wins and that means that the losing politician is automatically entitled to a recount.  You can bet that they will take it.

Side note - Second Annual Virginia Recount

Virginia is no stranger to recounts.  They had one last year.  So this will actually be the second annual Virginia recount.  The last recount in 2005 was not concluded until December 22, almost 45 days after the election. 

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Gridlock is Back!

CNN is calling it.  The Democrats have taken back the House of Representatives.

Of course, its CNN so there is lingering controversy as a couple of Democrats thought to be safe in Georgia may not actually be safe after all.

CNN has none the less called it with a projection.

If true, Gridlock is Back and the government will be better for it.  This blog was created to track and discuss the difficulties of a government operating under Gridlock.

Funny thing is over time, it has rapidly been demonstrated just how poorly things can go in the absence of Gridlock.  A party with free reign that rains down incompetence needs a little gridlock to slow it down.  That appears to be very likely now coming from the House and could yet be distantly possible in the Senate.

Time 11:20PM EST