Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Iraq And Baseball: Republicans Treat It Like A Game

Baseball is a wonderful game and a great American pastime. However comparing a Cubs/Cardinals game and the occupation of Iraq is way out of bounds. And that is exactly what Illinois Republican Jeff Shimkus did today on the floor of the House. In doing that he showed his true feelings on the war. That he thinks of Iraq as a game we must win to show our strength and willingness to do whatever it takes, to achieve...whatever he thinks is a vision of victory.

From Crooks and Liars:

Mr. Shimkus: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Imagine my beloved St. Louis Cardinals are playing the much despised Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals are are up by five finishing the top of the ninth. Is this a cause for celebration? Is this a cause for victory? No. Unbelievable as it may seem, the Cubbies score five runs in the bottom of the ninth to throw the game into extra innings. There the score remains until 1:00 a.m., five innings later. However at the top of the 15th the Cardinals fail to field a batter. The entire team has left the stadium.

It seems that they are more worried about next day's 1:00 p.m. game at home than finishing the game at hand. Who wins? We know, it's the team that stays on the field. Arbitrary deadlines and a date certain accept defeat before the conclusion of the contest. It is our national security interest to continue to take the field and support a moderate Arab state. Leaving prior assures a loss for us and victory for our opponents which will lead to another extremist Islamic state.


Shimkus doesn't have a clue. Nor does he have a care about our troops and the deterioration of our country due to the effects of long term war. Much like his glorious leade George Bush, the Congressman does not care about how the American people feel about the war. He does not care about the hundreds of billions of dollars we are losing, nor the thousands of American troops that are senselessly killed half a world away. Statements like these should signal the downfall of these misguided legislators. We already replaced thirty Republicans last year, and I wouldn't mind another thirty next year.