Griper Blade: Shutting Down the Iran War Before it Starts

It may be too early to stick the 'maverick' label on Virginia Senator Jim Webb. But he sure seems like one. In a two party system, the average politician is a team player in their parties' quests for dominance. This often leaves them serving ideology rather than reason or justice. The maverick does what they believe is right. While there are plenty of them in the house (with 435 seats, it's just the odds), the senate has surprisingly few.

Sooner or later, being a maverick is going to put him at odds with his own party. Let's hope this isn't one of those times.

Virginian-Pilot:

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, who has expressed his concern that President Bush may be preparing for war with Iran, urged his congressional colleagues Monday to demand a say in any decision to launch a conflict.

"This administration has shot from the hip too many times for us to be able to trust it," Webb, D-Va., told reporters.

He went to the Senate floor to introduce legislation that would block the president from tapping money appropriated for other military uses to support most action in or against Iran without specific c ongressional approval.

Webb did not announce any co-sponsors but said he hopes for substantial bi partisan backing. Solid Democratic support appears assured; Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada already has endorsed Webb's proposal in general terms.

The Bush administration's dictatorial attitude ignores the unfortunate fact that the executive and the legislative are coequal branches of government. The president does not command congress -- in war or peace...

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Tags: news | politics | Bush | neocon | war | Iraq | Iran | senate | Jim Webb