The Charlotte Observer reports today that neither Elizabeth Dole nor Richard Burr will support Sen. John Warner's resolution opposing Bush's troop surge. Meanwhile, a Civitas poll shows that just 11% of North Carolinians support the surge. Now, I'm all in favor of leadership over polls, but honestly shouldn't the opinion of 89% of the population matter just a little bit to our representatives? Even a smidge?
Dole believes that we need more troops in Iraq to secure it so they can "move forward with their democratically elected government." Leaving aside the thorny question of whether we here enjoy a democratically elected president, could we not at least expect our senators to consider the will of the people they serve? Dole thinks the resolution sends "the wrong message, not only to our enemies, but to our men and women who are in harm's way." I have to wonder how a resolution that says, "Congress should not take any action that will endanger United States military forces in the field" could be considered the wrong message. How is backing a president who is ignoring the preponderance of military advice and the will of the nation the right message?
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