Crossposted from Flopping Aces

Republicans in a show of unity walked out of Congress today due to a few things. First, the Democrats continually dragging their feet on the FISA bill.

“There is really no excuse for letting this critical legislation expire,” Bush said, his second statement on the bill at the White House in two days.

Bush said that “it would be a mistake” if Congress allowed the law to expire. “Members of Congress knew all along that this deadline was approaching. They set it themselves. They’ve had more than six months to discuss and deliberate. And now they must act.”

He denied claims that the issue had turned into a political game.

“I certainly hope not,” Bush said. “I can assure you that al-Qaida in their planning isn’t thinking about politics, they are thinking about hurting the American people again.”

“I guess you got to come to the conclusion that there’s a threat to America, or not a threat,” Bush said. “I mean, evidently, some people just don’t feel that sense of urgency. I do. And the reason I do is I firmly believe that there are still people out there who would do us harm.”

And second because of the House voting to pursue contempt charges against Bolton and Miers over the attorney firing sillyness. Contempt charges which will not be filed by the DOJ but in their continuing quest to make politics as partisan as ever the Democrats went ahead with it anyway.

They not only used the walkout but they also used a voting tactic to disrupt the proceedings, a memorial for Rep. Tom Lantos. Why would they do such a thing? Democrat procedural shananigans which cutoff debate of the contempt charges and which will allow the FISA bill to lapse.

During what was supposed to be a somber memorial service in Statuary Hall for Rep. Tom Lantos, who died Monday, the House chamber became mired in chaos over procedural votes.

Democrats angrily denounced the GOP as insensitive for calling a “motion to adjourn” — essentially a dilatory tactic — while dignitaries were still giving tributes to Lantos, a Holocaust survivor who was chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. But Republican aides shot back quickly, saying it was Democrats who broke an agreement to keep the House in recess during the memorial service.

To some extent, it appears both sides are at fault, but the recriminations have been fast and furious.

“The disrespect that has been shown by a Republican member of Congress in calling a political procedural motion during the memorial service for the late Chairman Tom Lantos is incomprehensible,” said Stacey Bernards, a spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.). “It is unjustifiable, and Republican leaders should restrict their members from further such action.”

A senior Republican aide, however, said the GOP was given no choice in asking for a vote because Democrats broke their commitment to keep the House in recess during the memorial service. Democrats are pushing a contempt vote against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former Bush counsel Harriet Miers, and have bypassed traditional rules allowing an hour of debate on the matter, according to Jo Maney, a spokeswoman for Republicans on the House Rules Committee.

So the Democrats wanted to play politics during a memorial but the Republicans came to play also.

This kind of thing will only get worse if we stay home to teach all of the right a lesson. I mean Obama can’t be all that bad right? He wouldn’t do everything in his power to ensure our intelligence agencies are hamstrung in protecting this country would he? He wouldn’t raise our taxes, grant amnesty for those here now and everyone who comes in the future, surrender to fanatical Islam and all that would he?

Sigh….

also:

Bottomline Upfront on Iraq: There is Progress

February 12, 2008: U.S. Army Staff Sgt. William Lambert, 30, of Plainview, Ark, shows photographs of his children to Iraqi children in Beijia, south of Baghdad. By Maya Alleruzzo, AP

Call From Baghdad: Iraqis Rejecting Al-Qaeda

My husband, MSG Proctor, called me from Baghdad this afternoon. He’s excited about his mission with Multi-National Force-Iraq and they’re accomplishing a lot.

I was glad to hear him say that the biggest change he noticed since he was there for a year in 2003-04 was that Iraqis are overwhelmingly rejecting al-Qaeda and the insurgency. Muslim clerics are now preaching against acts of terrorism from the mosques, whereas they used to preach against Coalition Forces. They condemn the recent al-Qaeda suicide attacks using 2 mentally retarded women from their pulpits and openly call al-Qaeda and groups like them “taqfari” or false Muslims, a very important distinction in Islam. Al-Qaeda’s disgusting tactics continue to backfire on them, and backfire BIG.

He says Iraqis have profoundly turned against al-Qaeda and terrorism. They want their country to function and be unified more than ever. He also said this endeavor will take longer than the rest of the Bush presidency and it’s crucial to VOTE REPUBLICAN. We cannot afford a Democrat in the White House if we want Iraq to continue on the road to freedom and self-sustenance.

Amy also blogs foreign fighters in Iraq are down by 50% (I guess one reason why they are down to recruiting children). And in light of the recent passage of 3 new laws by the Iraqi Parliament, Nancy Pelosi might learn a thing or twelve:

POLITICAL PROGRESSin IRAQ:

GEN Petraeus told Wolf Blitzer on Jan 27, 2008 that the Iraqi government:

• Passed a pensions law that extends pension rights to tens of thousands of individuals who were left out in earlier arrangement several years ago.
• they passed the Iraqi flag law in the council of representatives. Now, you might think that’s purely symbolic. It’s not. It has been a contentious issue for several years. The current flag does not fly in portions of the Kurdish regional government are in Iraq. And so this is an important step forward.
• The de-Baathification reform bill, so-called accountability and justice law, has passed
• The 2008 budget is being debated right now in the council of representatives, and it distributes oil revenues in a way that is in line with the oil revenue-sharing bill that could be debated later in the year
• So, again, all of a sudden, it’s as if there’s a new dynamism in the council of representatives.

Not only that, but the Iraqi Parliament has been more effective than the U.S. Congress:

The House Committee on Foreign Affairs compares Bills Signed Into Law:

• Democratic Congress – 48
• Iraqi Parliament – 53

Progress Report on Iraqi Parliament

Reconciliation Continues…

Reconstruction progress via the US Army Corps of Engineers

Desperate Al-Qaeda Resorts to Using Retarded Women in Attacks

Al-Qaeda Car Bombs Decrease Dramatically in Iraq

Iraqi Officer Challenges Media Misinformation about Coalition Forces

U.S. To Transfer Authority of Anbar Province Back to Iraq

Soldiers Celebrate Safest Christmas Ever in Iraq

Sunni, Shia March Together in Baghdad for Peace

Inflation Drops 90% In Iraq (and other good news)

• Year-to-date inflation as of October 2007 is 4.2%, compared to year-to-date inflation through October 2006 of 42.7%
• The continued appreciation of the Iraqi dinar went from 1,475 dinars per U.S. dollar in late 2006 to 1,218 dinars per U.S. dollar currently.
• Electrical output/production is up 14% from this time last year.
• The postwar electricity production record for one day (123,000 MWh) was broken on October 12, 2007 with the production of 125,000 MWh.
• Violence and casualties are down
• Security is up
• Sectarian deaths have plummeted
• In NOV 2006 there were 6 Iraqi Division Headquarters, 30 Brigade Headquarters and 91 Battalions.
• In NOV 2007 there are 10 Division Headquarters, 34 Brigade Headquarters and 108 Battalions.

And of course, Hillary would like to take credit, on behalf of Democrats, for all of this “no success” happening. I suppose “if it’s not covered in the media“, then it’s not happening.

Related recent posts:
The Two Bills and the Two Michaels