| Before we proceed further, I offer two stipulations:
--I acknowledge up front that this is entirely inappropriate behavior for a civil person to propose.
--I further admit that this is no way to treat a man (Senator Craig) who is, in his heart, a troubled person in a most difficult situation.
That said, let's set the stage:
We cannot advance the choices we want in regard to the war because our Republican friends in the Senate threaten to block any action with a filibuster; and further threaten to "hold the cards" that prevent the override of that veto.
There is enormous fear in the Republican community because of the "moral threat" posed by Craig's decision not to leave the Senate, and the fact that that image of Craig's "wide stance" will persist all the way to Election Day, dragging the Rs deeper into the muck the closer the vote gets.
At the moment, the Rs cannot remove Craig, which they would dearly love to do, because there is no way to obtain a majority on the Ethics Committee unless Democrats agree to join the R members of that committee in a vote.
Beyond that, there is no way the Rs can obtain the votes on the Senate floor to remove Craig unless Ds decide to throw the Rs a life preserver.
So what I'm advising is:
Let's throw them that life preserver...for a price.
Harry Reid should approach Mc Connell and say something more or less like this: "You give me the votes I need to pass a Defense Department budget with a timeline attached, and you deliver the votes for the override...and the next day we'll give you the votes to remove Craig."
I know how inherently bad this is on a moral level, but you know what?
I'm sick of the idea that nothing will change in this war for 18 months, at least-and I'm ready to take any action that will stop Mr. Bush from creating the momentum he wants to carry this war into the next Administration.
I will happily trade Craig's political life for the very real lives of the 1000 or so troops that will die before January 2009.
If all that wasn't enough, it will teach the Rs some very real lessons about what you sow when you treat politics as a Rovian exercise.
So that's my idea for today.
I admit it is the wrong way to practice politics, but that said I feel the savings of 1000 American lives is well worth the sacrifice of Craig...and I suspect any Republican who is a fan of Jack Bauer will have a tough time disagreeing.
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