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Return to Article: What's Brewin: Unfinished Business

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  Unfinished business?? No, business as usual. You can't blame the lack of budget on any party, when the Republicans held both houses we had continuing resolutions then too. I have a proposal that will go nowhere with gutless politicians but it would make them get the job done. If there is not a budget in place on 10/1 shut down the government, no social security checks, no military, no national parks, nothing. I know it will never happen, but it's the only way to make Congress get the job done that they are elected to do.

  John Gustafson Posted November 28, 2007 12:22 PM
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  You're always a delight, Mr Ketter, but the facts are these: 1) This IS GWB's war; and, 2) he lied to everyone about the reasons for going in. Facts are facts.

  AF HR Posted November 27, 2007 3:32 PM
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  How about one of those programs that Congress (the opposite of progress!) loves to hate being applied to them: Pay for Performance. If they don't get their work done, they get GS-2 pay. If they get their work done, they get their full pay, and I think giving them an 18 month probationary period would be a good idea too. Let their constituency toss them some months before the next election cycle so someone else has a chance to run for their seat. Might provide the necessary incentive to do something.

  Gary Faeth Posted November 27, 2007 2:40 PM
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  I get so tired of the morans who write that its Bush's war and he lied to the american public. This lie was the same one touted by Clinton/Gore. Congress gave Bush the OK to do what ever was necessary in Iraq. Do I want our guys home ABSOLUTELY, hopefully its soon. As for world opinion who cares, other than the Brits we don't have friends in the world. What Bush did accomplish is makimg the UN irrelevant which it always has been, it run buy a bunch of con men. I'm still waiting for the proscutation of all the UN folks for the oil for food program

  dan ketter Posted November 27, 2007 12:17 PM
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  The ironic juxtaposition between Mr. Brewin's first and second paragraphs speaks volumes. More generally, why does Mr. Brewin speak as though his audience were the typical cable news viewer, rather than senior government managers who presumably have a more subtle, nuanced understanding of the way Congress works?

  Joe Frankl Posted November 27, 2007 10:37 AM
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  This Congress has some very smart and capable people in it, but it is collectively one of the worst Congresses we have ever had. The polls clearly show this in their approval ratings.

  Congress needs to get all the appropriations bills passed, it needs to cut out the pork, and unnecessary spending, and do their jobs. Don't they realize the impact that these continuing resolutions have on day to day agency operations. If they pulled this crap in the private sector they would all be fired. We have important legislation like the Energy bill, Immigration issues, the HHS bill that supports critical scientific research, critical updates to the air traffic control system, even the NRC is concerned that it will be unable to review applications for badly needed new nuclear power plants. This is the budget for the entire federal government we are talking about not the "office coffee fund" they are playing around with. They need to address the AMT issue so IRS can plan, schedule and function. They need to start thinking about the good of the nation and not about their pet pork projects. How about getting some honor and intregrity back into the Congressional process, and put aside the bitter partisan hatred that causes these log jams. Politics is about seeing the other sides position and reaching workable compromises, or did all the Congress people forget, or never learn that. It is a competitive and dangerous world and America does not need dysfunctional branches of government

  Average American Posted November 27, 2007 9:39 AM
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  Excellent comments! I was all for the war in the beginning and still in favor of being there, but not at the expense of our military personnel. We are past the days when our troops should be used as pawns in the political arena. Currently soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors are the metaphorical children that divorced parents (a.k.a., congress) use against each other in order to one-up the other. As a former soldier it makes me ill. If we can't get it right after 5+ years what are we really doing over there? A typical wag-the-dog would suffice and no one has to sacrifice their lives for the gain of politicians.

  Ryan Posted November 26, 2007 2:49 PM
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  Yes, Congress knows there is a war going on, but a better question is does the president know anything about everything else that is going on, so we need 43 billion dollars more for the war, take it out of the 471 billion dollar budget for defense, which has already been approved. Let congress have the ability to approve all other departments funding before we worry about additional money to a department that is the only in in the FED taht already has their's

  Ryan Markinson Posted November 26, 2007 2:30 PM
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  I believe that everyone is all to aware of the fact that we are in another "police" action. I do not believe that Congress has passed an article of war (I might have missed that one for all the diversionary news). Congress does not need to give anymore "blood for oil" money until Bush succumbs to the will of the nation and proclaims an end-date to the madness over in Iraq. Without a doubt, Bush's failed foreign policy has tarnished the formerly great status of our Nation in the eyes of the world community. I hope that Congress does not, again, let loose the reigns and allow Bush to keep the meat grinder churning. We have lost far too many to his blind ignorance. (oh, by the way, I am a patriot and I do support our fighting men and women of the armed forces. I figure the best way to support them is to support the effort to end this "war").

  Don E. Posted November 26, 2007 1:31 PM
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  This is another example of why there must be term limits for the House and the Senate. Congress has no accountability. While the Pentagon gets ready to layoff 200,000 people, nothing happens to Congressmen who go on more vacations, or are away from the Hill, longer than anyone. Unless, and until, there is a binding measure that forces Congress to pass budget bills before the beginning of the fiscal year on Oct. 1, they will not have to make hard decisions in a timely fashion. They will continue to delay, stall, or demure because in the end nothing happens to them.

  Allen Posted November 26, 2007 12:20 PM
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  What War? George Bush's War. He was able to fool so many members of Congress into going over to Iraq. Our enemy wasn't in Iraq until we toppled the government. We don't need to spend money for the troops if we bring them home. Let's bolster our weapons without wasting money overseas. You don't see China doing this. Why not?? Because they have smart leaders. Enough said.

  Charlie Posted November 26, 2007 12:19 PM