Who's got the BALLS?

The weak kneed, wossy, anti-war Dems are tying their hands and lying down to protest the fact that AMERICA IS STANDING STRONG by fighting terrorism where is isn't, by killing thousands of innocent civilians, by torturing innocent Muslims, by imprisoning people without right to trial or counsel. What a bunch of jerks. They should know that we have to kill, maim, destroy, and mutilate to prove we have balls. Nobody will respect us unless we show them our BALLS! These guys are just pussy-footers without balls. We pro-war hawks have the BALLS! (Of course, none of has ever done service in the military -- oops, there's the Texas Air National Guard charade duty we should remember).

A group of Democratic and Republican House members held a press conference today at the Capitol with their hands 'literally tied' to protest the blocking by Republican leadership of any real debate about the war in Iraq, RAW STORY has found.

Representatives Ron Paul (R-TX), Walter Jones (R-NC), Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Martin Meehan (D-MA) blasted the "so-called resolution for debate on Iraq" that the House is set to vote on as little more than an "affirmation" of President Bush's "failed" Iraq policy.

"The result, unfortunately, despite our pleas to the Rules Committee, is to effectively have a resolution which is not a debate but rather a discussion which will, in effect, give affirmation to the existing Bush administration policy with respect to Iraq," said Rep. Abercrombie.

"It will express sentiment that everybody can agree with -- support for troops and support for engaging terrorists on a worldwide basis -- but does not have anything substantive to say with regard to the conduct of the war or what the position of the United States should be now, with the establishment of the Iraqi government and presumably the end of training for Department of Defense and Department of Interior forces in Iraq," Abercrombie continued.

"Our hands are tied literally on the floor of the people's house, the one place that the American people should be able to expect a full and honest and open debate about what we should do to honor the sacrifices that have been made," explained Abercrombie.

Congressman Martin Meehan emphasized the bipartisan nature of the news conference.

"Now, we have worked hard in a bipartisan way to try to get a debate that's fair, a debate that gives everyone an opportunity to present their point of view," said Rep. Meehan. "Most of us have been to Iraq once or twice, or more than that."

"Most of us talk to generals and other military officials on a regular basis," continued Meehan. "Surely the American people deserve to hear that debate."

Republican House member Ron Paul spoke about the "irony" of the situation.

"It's to me rather ironic that at this very moment we have Americans dying to promote democracy at the very same time we believe we are being shortchanged on democracy in that we're not permitted to offer any amendments," said Rep. Paul. "We hope that will change."

Excerpts from the trancript of the press conference:

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REP. ABERCROMBIE: Those of us who will be speaking are going to be showing everybody exactly what's happening with this so-called resolution for debate on Iraq.

We put forward this proposition on a nonpartisan basis over a year ago. The result, unfortunately, despite our pleas to the Rules Committee, is to effectively have a resolution which is not a debate but rather a discussion which will, in effect, give affirmation to the existing Bush administration policy with respect to Iraq. It will express sentiment that everybody can agree with -- support for troops and support for engaging terrorists on a worldwide basis -- but does not have anything substantive to say with regard to the conduct of the war or what the position of the United States should be now, with the establishment of the Iraqi government and presumably the end of training for Department of Defense and Department of Interior forces in Iraq.

All we asked for, on behalf of all of those who have been killed, all of those who have been wounded, all of the families which have suffered the consequences of this war, is an honest and open debate about what alternatives might exist, not for us in the Congress, but on behalf of those who are expected to make the sacrifices while we observe what's going on.

That's what this is all about.

Our hands are tied literally on the floor of the people's house, the one place that the American people should be able to expect a full and honest and open debate about what we should do to honor the sacrifices that have been made. There's still time.

So, can you tell I'm a bit testy tonight? Does that have anything to do with testosterone?