Dick Durbin, the senior senator from RascalLand, voted last night to continue funding of the war in Iraq without any timetable for withdrawal of U.S. troops.Apparently afraid that Republicans would impugn his patriotism and accuse him of not supporting the troops, Durbin knuckled under to George W. Bush.
He explained himself thusly, according to the Chicago Tribune:
I share the frustration of those who are angry about this failed war policy and the soldiers who are fighting and dying. I'm doing everything in my power to keep this national debate front and center and to change this policy. Until we have more senators of both parties who feel this way, we are limited in our options.
Everything in his power to change this policy? By voting to continue it?
Well, at least our junior senator, Barack Obama, did the right thing.
The Trib has this story about antiwar pressures on Democratic lawmakers.
