"Benchmarks without consequences are meaningless."
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (05/10/07)
It's late here in California. In fact, it's so late that I can say it's early. I am saddened. I am dejected. I am angry. I have to go to work in just a few hours, but I cannot sleep. I am sad for my party. I am sad for our troops who are bravely fighting in Iraq. But most of all, I am sad for my country.
Throughout the night, the same five words have rung aloud in my head.
I want my money back.
I contributed a lot of money in 2005 and 2006. Sure, maybe not enough to make a significant dent. I can't afford to attend those really nice fundraisers where it costs multiple hundreds of dollars to get a plate of chicken. But it was a lot to me, at least. It was a sacrifice. It was money sacrificed with the expectation that the Democrats would redeploy our troops. They seemingly are not going to do it. But, for me, one thing is for sure: Benchmarks will be set. Redeployment will happen.
I tripped across Speaker Pelosi's quote tonight while looking for answers. I want answers as to why the Democrats are apparently "folding," or "caving," or whatever word the media is calling it. Maybe the Democrats have a positive message for me. After finding a lot of nothing, I finally ended up at The Speaker's Website, where I got to see a front-paged video from just 13 days ago, titled prominently:
Speaker Pelosi on the Revised Iraq Accountability Act
Silly me, I thought it was from today. But I knew it couldn't be true when I heard this:
"Benchmarks without consequences are meaningless."
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (05/10/07)
Speaker Pelosi then goes on to speak about how benchmarks are set on our children and they are held accountable (thanks to that monstrosity called the 'No Child Left Behind' Act). And yet, President Bush refuses to hold the Iraqi government accountable to any benchmarks!
Preach it, sister! [/crickets]
I hope Madame Speaker doesn't mind, but I took her words quite literally tonight. After all, they make perfect sense. But, I'm going to twist it around in a way that she might not appreciate. What she was telling me on May 10th is:
If the Iraqi government fails to meet benchmarks, then we will redeploy our troops.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Therefore:
If the Democrats in Congress fail to meet benchmarks, then we will redeploy them.
Yes. For me, benchmarks will be set. Redeployment will happen. One way or another. If our Democrats in Congress fail to make the President and the Iraqi government accountable, then I will hold them accountable. If our Democrats in Congress fail to redeploy our troops, then I will work to redeploy each and every Democrat in Congress. Because, after all:
"Benchmarks without consequences are meaningless."
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (05/10/07)
There are so many benchmarks that I could set. I could require that the Democrats pass successful legislation by the end of the summer for, oh, I don't know:
- Honest Leadership & Open Government
- Real Security
- Energy Independence
- Economic Prosperity & Educational Excellence
- A Healthcare System That Works for Everyone
- Retirement Security
But I understand that setting so many deadlines for so many benchmarks may sound a little bit tough for our newly-elected Democratic majority. Therefore, I only have one requirement: set a deadline for troop redeployment out of Iraq. Until then, not a single dollar will go to any sitting Representative, Senator or Campaign Committee.
And I really don't give a flying jump off a cliff whether Congressman XYZ voted against a blank check for President Bush. Being an elected representative requires more than just voting, it requires demonstrating the leadership necessary to get others to vote with you (do you hear me now, Senators Clinton and Obama?). I did not help put Pelosi and Reid into power so I could hear what they would like to see happen. Damn it, I helped elect a Democratic Congress so I could see them make it so.
So until those two, and the entire Democratic leadership, can get it together and figure out how to do not only what they were elected to do but also what's simply right, there will be no money from me. In fact, I will throw money at their primary contenders. I will give until it hurts - again - but to different people this time. Because, one way or another, benchmarks will be set. Redeployment will happen.
If the Democrats in Congress fail to redeploy our troops, then we should redeploy the Democrats.