Congress must act, because Bush is staying the course

By Nancy Jane Moore

Among the political emails I got yesterday was one asking me to write Bush and urge him to rethink his troop surge in Iraq.

Senators -- including some prominent Republicans like John Warner of Virginia -- are introducing resolutions opposing the troop build up and urging the president to reconsider.

But while these are not bad things to do -- it is a fundamental right and duty of people to let their leader know they oppose his actions -- they are also a waste of time.

Bush isn't listening.

He already knows that most of us disagree with his policies and he has made it clear every time he opens his mouth we're supposed to just shut up and let him do what he wants. He isn't going to change his mind, no matter how many times someone gives him facts that contradict his plan, no matter how many other countries hate us, no matter how many US citizens object to his policies, no matter how many Iraqis die, no matter how many US soldiers die or end up seriously disabled from their injuries.

We can't waste time pleading with Bush. We can't change his mind.

But what we can do -- or rather, what Congress can do -- is rein him in.

So focus your efforts on Congress. Demand that they do more than pass nonbinding resolutions. They have the power and they need to take it back.

Some members of Congress -- and some in the Democratic Party -- are probably content to sit back and watch Bush slowly deteriorate, setting up the 2008 election. But the country can't wait that long. We need action now.

I hope Congress is listening.