Totally Spineless

So, as expected, the Senate overwhelmingly decided to pass the "Let Bush Do Whatever He Wants" resolution. This from the Globe:

''This is not an ideological debate. This is a debate about the sober business of responsibility in the face of danger,'' said House majority leader Dick Armey, Republican of Texas.

I don't even KNOW what to say about that one. I don't see how sober and responsible it is to bow to Bush's bullying to avoid jeapordizing upcoming elections.

A pleased Bush lauded Congress for its votes, saying the actions send ''a clear message to the Iraqi regime: It must disarm and comply with all existing UN resolutions, or it will be forced to comply... ''There are no other options for the Iraqi regime. There can be no negotiations,'' Bush said. ''The days of Iraq acting as an outlaw state are coming to an end.''

Whereas the days of the U.S. acting as an outlaw state are just getting on a roll.

Of course there were dissenters... ''I'm sorry to see this day,'' said Senator Robert C. Byrd, Democrat of West Virginia and the leading opponent of the resolution in the Senate. ''I have been in the Senate 50 years, and I never thought that I'd find a Senate which lacked the backbone to stand up against this stampede, this rush to war.''

...but unfortunately not nearly enough of them.

Here's how the votes went down with Massachusetts reps in Congress: Capuano, Delahunt, Frank, Neal, Olver, Tierney, McGovern, and (Ted) Kennedy voted against the resolution. Lynch, Markey, Meehan (who represents my hometown of Lowell, argh!), and presidential hopeful John Kerry, on the other hand, got down on their knees and licked Bush's boots.

Though you wouldn't know anything about this resolution--which will likely lead to thousands of U.S. and Iraqis dead (many of them civilians)--from turning on the cable news this morning, which is currently just showing images of the interstate amid mindless speculation by newscasters about the sniper shootings.

As a postscript

Reader Philip suggests that "outlaw" is not the right word, and I would have to agree with his email: I think the US is acting more like a vigilante than an outlaw. We're using our might to take out criminals. I could probably make a connection between this and any superhero, but I don't think the Bush administration is anywhere near the level of Superman, Spider-Man, etc. when it comes to using their powers responsibly. This is about oil, it's about swaying public opinion, and it's about upcoming elections (both this year's and 2004's)

And speaking of Bush not being Spiderman, I hope you all saw Ruben Bolling's cartoon "The Amazing George W." (because "with great power comes great responsibilitude!")