THE NEW AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES: PRO-WAR OR ANTI-AMERICAN
Last Wednesday, while most Americans were tuned in (or should I say tuned out) to streaming war coverage, the Senate narrowly defeated a spending bill, proposed by Bush, which would have permitted petroleum drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge.

One week later, the Senate slashed Bush's tax cut proposal in half from $726 billion over the next decade to $350 billion.

Bush's defeat, in both instances, came at the hands of moderate Republicans including: John McCain (Arizona), Olympia Snowe (Maine) and (RI's own) Lincoln Chafee. (Missing Linc was also the only Republican to join 21 Democrats and Independent, James Jeffords, in voting against granting Bush Powers of War.)

Ironically enough, this contingent of unlikely rebels is what’s been holding the line for those of us who lean left while Americans fall victim to Bush’s Weapons of Mass Distraction.
Republican Senators are pulling out their slingshots and slamming Bush with the swing-vote rock, despite more pressure than ever to get in line with the neo-con stance or risk suffering the same vilification as Tom Daschle.

In fact, it seems as though no vote can be made in Congress these days without aligning the Senator in question with one of two contingents: pro-war or anti-American.

Democrats basically said, if you accept this budget proposal you’re anti-American.
Citing a lack of jobs for Americans and lack of funding for their domestic security.
Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Mississippi) even argued that Bush’s budget proposal would leave those currently serving in the American military and their children with footing the bill. (Associated Press 3/21/03)

Republicans basically said, if you don’t grant the rights to drill in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge you’re anti-American.
Mostly citing the need for independence from foreign oil suppliers (including the Middle East) during
‘this time of uncertainty.’ Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Montana) said by banning drilling, the U.S is denying “our own resources . . . for our own security," (Washington Post 3/19/03)

The issues faced by Congress have been tainted by the economic uncertainty of this pre-emptive strike but you’d never know it by watching the Bush administration who seems to think it’s business as usual despite its $74.7 billion request for emergency funds to help pay for the war, anti-terrorism efforts and foreign aid.
Maybe this is exactly the kick in the ass Congress needs to get Little Georgie back in line.