Will the Dems Finally Play Hardball? By Robert Parry

[Demeter]

http://consortiumnews.com/2007/020707.html

Will the Dems Finally Play Hardball?

By Robert Parry
February 7, 2007


The Republicans scored a political victory of sorts by thwarting a non-binding Senate resolution that would have expressed mild disapproval of George W. Bush’s military escalation in Iraq. When the resolution was blocked, White House officials reportedly gave each other high-fives.

The GOP’s use of parliamentary procedures to prevent a floor debate was another sharp elbow in the ribs of the new Democratic congressional majority, which has been trying since November to behave in a bipartisan way on foreign policy, graciously approving Bush’s new war council with nary a tough question.

However, perhaps the humiliation over the Iraq War resolution will finally show the Democrats that it’s time to play the political game the way the Republicans do – to win. It also may be time to start seeking meaningful accountability from senior figures in this administration, not just from low-level has-beens like former Iraq proconsul Paul Bremer.

For instance, there’s the case of Vice President Dick Cheney, who organized a smear campaign against Iraq War critic Joseph Wilson. The public evidence is now overwhelming that Cheney abused his authority to discredit Wilson, a former ambassador who had undertaken an important fact-finding assignment for the CIA...Since independent counsel Patrick Fitzgerald has given no indication that he intends to expand his Plame-gate investigation beyond the Libby trial, it perhaps is time for the House Judiciary Committee to formulate plans for hearings on Cheney’s role.

Fitzgerald may be exercising prosecutorial discretion in not indicting a sitting Vice President, but that leniency should not spare Cheney from all punishment for harming two American citizens – and endangering U.S. national security by exposing Plame’s spy network.

Hearings on the applicability of the law protecting CIA officers or on a censure motion against the Vice President also would send a powerful message to the White House – that the Democratic majority is not averse to going head to head with the administration....Despite the Republican defeat in November, the Bush administration has left no doubt it intends to continue playing political hardball. The question before the congressional Democrats is whether they will play that way, too.

Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories in the 1980s for the Associated Press and Newsweek. His latest book, Secrecy & Privilege: Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq, can be ordered at secrecyandprivilege.com. It's also available at Amazon.com, as is his 1999 book, Lost History: Contras, Cocaine, the Press & 'Project Truth.'

[European Socialist]

1. Not enough Dems willing to play hardball--maybe nerfball.

[Parisle]

2. Well,... we could start with a more visceral definition for "hardball"

--- But that wouldn't change my answer. No. My fear is that the democrats are now on the unavoidable verge of confirming that their first allegiances lie with the "political industry," to which they are a principle party,.... and not with the Constitutional concerns and best interests of ordinary, everyday Americans.

[unblock]

3. republics were idiots as usual on this one:

they pissed off dems and earned the "obstructionist" label over a non-binding, symbolic resolution.

talk about not knowing how to keep your powder dry....

[Theodora]

4. Options for Congress

I haven't heard any options from legislators on specific bills
they are or may introduce or courses of action Senator Murtha
and others are suggesting which will do the trick.

In the first place, Senator Reid, nice guy that he is, and
tough as he likes to sound, comes across to me as a whiner and
sore loser.  This is not appealing to the opposition or the
unconvinced.

Next, we are not winning the war on pro-active statements to
refute Repugs' too well-known lines.  For example,
"cutting and running by pulling out the troops
precipitously,""not allowing any amendments." 
The Clinton War Room, as I recall, was great on this.  We need
a much better and controlled response team. (Maybe, we could
kidnap Karl Rove!)

The best plan I have heard, and from the Nation, I think, is
to go ahead on multiple very well publicized hearings of all
kinds.  The ones which have been held are not given enough, if
any, media space.  One has to be a real junkie and retired,
perhaps, to stay glued to C-SPAN 3 to watch or hear these, or
stay up all night to view the tapes.

The results of the Libby Trial, even before the verdict,
should be enough to win over many more intelligent people
still on the fence about this war....This needs to be in the
Main Stream Media!!!
The stories so far emphasize the star witnesses and who might
have been indicted, etc.  There has not been a great deal of
analysis or conclusions drawn about the implications of this. 
And there still are leaks appearing post-trial with major
significance, i.e. in Newsweek. 

[Cobalt-60]

5. The cons need to meet the meat hammer

The soft approach isn't working.

[Chris77]

6. No way.

Too many diverse demands.