The Great Litmus Test

I have to fully agree with the commentary on the failure of Democrats to vote against the resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq. This was an abdication of responsibility by many members of Congress... an easy way out of a difficult decision. In fact, I would consider it a dereliction of duty. I use this phrase intentionally. The same phrase is a title of the book Dereliction of Duty by H.R. McMaster. He is a major who extensively researched the leadup to the Vietnam War, with particular focus on the workings of the Johnson administration. The portrait of Johnson in that book is one of the most egregious examples of a politician worried more about "re"-election than he was about consequences of his actions on the American people and the world. He kept Vietnam operations secret from Congress and secret from the American people, all the while leading us further and further into the quagmire. He sacrificed policy for politics, and such individuals need to be banished from our government. Of course, it is incumbent on the American people to carry this out. Unfortunately, they are unlikely to do it.