And Iraq is by no means the only contentious policy question on the agenda. On nearly every issue, from spending bills to President Bush's nominees, senators have been unable to come together to get things done. Two bills stuck in limbo deal with the 9/11 Commission recommendations and congressional ethics reform.
On the first, Democrats cite Republican obstructionism for the lack of progress. But it's really the Democrats who aren't sincere about implementing the 9/11 Commission recommendations as they pertain to Congress. Congressional oversight was major criticism expressed by the commission, yet members of both houses refuse to take the steps necessary to revamp the committee structure to oversee the intelligence community.
Too many politicians have no problem telling others how their business should be done, but cast a blind eye upon suggestions on how best to put their own house in order -- be it improving oversight of national security initiatives or adopting much needed ethics reforms.
Despite promises to “do something” about the ethics and lobbying scandals that have rocked both parties, the reform bill championed by Reid and Pelosi is going nowhere fast. Sen. Jim DeMint (R.-S.C.), a staunch fiscal conservative, wants to ensure that tough earmark-reform language the Senate agreed to on a 98-0 vote is preserved. Reid won't make that guarantee and has enlisted liberal special-interest groups to pressure DeMint. So far it hasn’t worked.
Now, with time running out before the August recess, senators are scrambling to get something -- anything -- done to boast about back home. Their greatest accomplishment -- and the only fulfilled promise in the "Six for '06" agenda -- was enactment of a minimum-wage hike. Nearly all of the blame falls on Reid, who can’t get consensus in his own party let alone the full Senate.
Perhaps if congressional leadership would stop indulging in fruitless, time-consuming theatrics over Iraq, they might to get something done.