In the fight for truth, justice and the American way, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Ca.), may have helped avert a future war. Okay, a bit melodramatic but we will know for sure in 240 days or fewer http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-committee-unexpectedly-opens-door-to-1498776070-htmlstory.html.
The California legislator, who voted against the U.S. Congress aborting its right to authorize war back in 2001 has waged a battle to resend the AUMF (Authorization for Use of Military Force) following the 9/11 terror attacks. If memory serves me correctly, Congresswoman Lee was the only dissenting vote sanctioning former President George W. Bush’s incursion into what is now a 16 year boondoggle in the Middle East http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/barbara-lee-war-vote-2001_us_57d9baf7e4b08cb140938f2a. At the time, Lee’s superpowers foresaw and endless conflict and she was right. The House Appropriations Committee took up her amendment, Thursday, to end the President’s right to wage war, unabated by the Congress, and has 240 days to debate the issue or the AUMF becomes moot.
Now that I have paid homage to the esteemed Representative let us put our cards on the table.
Barbara Lee has been on the right side of history since 2001, did the Republican controlled committee suddenly have an epiphany, is Ms. Lee the newest great persuader? NO…Republicans are scared to death of giving unbridled power to a weak-minded, thin-skinned, bully who would push the button if someone refused to accept one of his laminated electoral victory maps. Let’s face it, the man in the oval office cannot be trusted with a life or death decision. Even yesterday his bullpen reliever for beleaguered press secretary Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, could not say she would have her children mimic her boss’ behavior, in response to a question from Hallie Jackson of MSNBC news.
I wonder how you compromise your self-professed moral fiber and invoke God in the same breath? Being a black boy in America, I grew up with no illusions of ever being President or being fed that dream. For the first time since Richard Nixon, the President’s integrity and loyalty to country, not his political ideology, is being legitimately questioned. These doubts are from former FBI director James Comey, former acting Department of Justice head, Sally Yates, and now his spokesperson, in the words of conservatives, “this is troubling.”
I imagine the members of the House Appropriations Committee saw their sons, daughters, and grandchildren fighting a war, under the command of Donald Trump and sanity won the day. This may be the first concrete sign of Republican Resistance.
Back to our hero…
Rep. Barbara Lee has fought the anti-war battle for nearly 16 years. She stood alone in the initial days of anti-Islamic fervor and revenge filled hatred. She repelled the verbal shots at the D on her chest and even dodged the empty weapons thrown at her when the ammunition ran out.
I never did understand how Superman could repel bullets but ducked when the gun was thrown at him, but anyway…
Before I get too close to Krypton with metaphors, Barbara Lee is another reminder of the strong, black, female base that has stayed with the Democratic party, when parts of the country wanted to vote her off the island. I hope the party leadership stops chasing old white men who haven’t voted for a liberal since they last got high at Woodstock and support its real base.
Vote in 18’ and Change.