(2007-03-20) Buying Iraq Exit Votes Via Pork Barrel

The Democratic Party is using $21B of Pork Barrel funding to buy support for setting an exit-deadline on the War On Iraq. Uh, whose money is that?

More details. The $100 million for the political party conventions - $50 million for the Democratic convention in Denver and $50 million for the Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn. - is included in a section described as "Katrina recovery, veterans' care and for other purposes."

Ron Paul comments - Once again Congress wants to have it both ways. Back in 2002, Congress passed the authorization for the president to attack Iraq if and when he saw fit. By ignoring the Constitution, which clearly requires a declaration of war, Congress could wash its hands of responsibility after the war began going badly by citing the ambiguity of its authorization. This time, House leaders want to appear to be opposing the war by including problematic benchmarks, but they include language to allow the president to waive these if he sees fit. To top it off, House leadership may have actually made war with Iran more likely. The bill originally contained language making it clear that the president would need congressional authorization before attacking Iran - as the Constitution requires. But this language was dropped after special interests demanded its removal. This move can reasonably be interpreted as de facto congressional authority for an attack on Iran. Let's hope that does not happen.