What is our Congress really up to???

What is going on in the new Democratic Congress – I mean – what really is going on, not what they say, not what they broadcast.

As I said before, I was home sick the day Nancy Pelosi took office and I watched the eventful day on dish…and what I saw struck me. There will be more posts to follow this one about that day…and how it helps tell what is REALLY going on.

Ms. Pelosi very firmly stated several times that one of her main goals was to be sure President Bush got the message that he would start running the war in Iraq exactly as called for in the, then recently published, 79 Point Peace Plan. And if he did not do that, the Democrats would cut off the funding of the war.

A huge debate followed with virtually every Democrat who spoke saying the same thing, and virtually every Republican saying – now you really need to think about this, the President is the Commander and Chief of the Armed Forces, and we (Congress) can not tell him what to do with them. We don’t have that authority…we can only decide whether to fund or not fund.

And if my memory of High School and College government classes serves me correctly – the President is in fact the Commander and Chief of the Armed Forces, with the final word. Now, that may be a good thing or not --- one person with the say so to launch our Military. I have personally seen it be both. However, whether it should be that way is not the point of this post.

Back to those Government Classes – those of you who have had them may remember that there are 3 Separate But Equal Branches of our Government: the Executive ( President ), Legislative ( Congress / Senate ) and Judicial ( Supreme Court ). And having those 3 Separate But Equal Branches is a key part of what makes our Political Process work. But you may not realize that is a farce today. It is a farce because what they don’t tell you in basic Government classes is that early in our nation’s history the Executive and Legislative Branches became embroiled in a stalemate over something ( frankly I don’t remember what). The Judicial Branch ( who by the nature of the job really is filled with some of the brightest minds in our Country ) said – hey guys, how about letting the Supreme Court settle the argument. We will look at it and decide which of you is correct by the Constitution. Hey, that made sense – so the President and Legislature agreed. The Supreme court made its decision and voila – problem solved….only it wasn’t solved. By doing what the Supreme Court told them to do, the other two branches became lower, never again to be equal with the Supreme Court. That is where the terms like – Governing by Judicial Revue come from. The Supreme Court can veto or authorize anything by interpreting the Constitution in such a way as to make what they want to have happen, be correct. They just have to wait for a case to cross their desks that is discussing the issue they want to deal with. And by accepting the Judicial Decision once, long ago – the other two Branch’s decisions and actions are forever subject to approval / rejection by the Judicial Branch….seemed like such a small little thing – let them settle an argument….

The most famous example of the Supreme Courts Power of course, in my life time, is Roe vs. Wade – abortion. You can’t kill another Human Being. So, if a fetus were to be considered Human, then abortion would be illegal. The Supreme Court interpreted the Constitution in such a way as to say that a fetus is not Human, so aborting it is not a crime….Again, I am not taking sides on abortion here – simply pointing out that it is a classic case of how the Supreme Court is more powerful than the President or Legislature. And of course – how we count votes in Florida is another famous case…

At any rate – What was Nancy Pelosi and her group really up to that day. Well one thing is they were counting on Bush to be stupid enough to take their bait. Hey, the heat is on about Iraq! Bush could just say – Congress says I have to follow the 79 Point Peace Plan and so I am going to do what they say – now whatever happens as a result, blame Congress not me. Win – Win – He gets his funding for the war, and Congress takes the heat instead of him…how could he turn that bait down??? Why would he turn it down??

Because the instant Bush said what Pelosi wanted him to say – he would no longer be Commander and Chief of the Armed Forces – Congress would be. And the President would not be Equal to the Legislative Branch ever again – but 3rd on the totem pole of government…

That’s what was really going on folks…a fight for control of the military. An attempt by one Branch of our Government to grab power from another Branch. It had nothing to do with Iraq – except that the political heat over Iraq was the bait to get the control. Pelosi and her group were using the War in Iraq as a pawn for their power grab.

And please take note – as it will be important in further posts – a few days later the President said that after careful review of the 79 Point Peace Plan by HIS ADVISORS – Bush decided to follow it, by starting a 20,000 troop surge …. Very carefully worded to NOT indicate that he was doing it because Congress told him to….VERY CAREFULLY WORDED WITH GOOD REASON…. He is still Commander and Chief – and an equally powerful Branch…

Thanks for reading, Pete