I was just perusing the records on H.J.RES.114 at thomas.loc.gov. That was the Authorization of the Use of US Military Force Against Iraq, and discovered that 19 Democratic House members were CoSponsors of the bill. On a check check, I found 10 on that list who are still members in the House of Representatives.

I don't recall extra derision being heaped upon these politicians' heads for their willingness to go that extra warmongering mile, aiding and abetting The United States' ill-advised, immoral and counterproductive War Upon Iraq.

Clinton's assent to the use of force was strong, but it was not a blank check for Mr. Bush to use assuaging his deep-seated Oedipal insecurities, the evidence notwithstanding.

"My vote is not, however, a vote for any new doctrine of preemption or for unilateralism or for the arrogance of American power or purpose, all of which carry grave dangers for our Nation, the rule of international law, and the peace and security of people throughout the world."

Senator H.R. Clinton, October 10, 2002, Senate Floor

Clinton's vote for the authorization of force was substantially less than handing the Connecticut Cowboy his very own pair of spurs, and hollering, "Ride 'em Cowboy!" Yet whenever Clinton tries to make this distinction, she is vilified by many within her party, and portrayed in the mainstream press as a fence-sitter watching which way the wind blows.

J. effin Kerry's 6550 word ponderousity of a spoken word performance on the Senate floor, October 9, 2002, was filled with qualifications, and indicated Kerry believed that even a small man, who wears a 38qt Stetson is expected to fulfill his duty, to take his sworn oath of office seriously, place the good of the country before all else, and not charge recklessly into war when other viable possibilities are still in motion. Kerry was wrong, and he discovered that even though Bush's cowboy hat starts out a couple of quarts down, he still has to heavily pad it just to keep it up over his ears. Yet Kerry is known as a flip-flopper, because too few Americans are able and/or willing to read the wanking wonk's speech, and discover that Kerry never wavered from his original position. Senator Reid pretty much called Dubya half the man his daddy is on the Senate floor October 9, 2002, yet many believe Reid is a wimp.

So why is it that these 10 active House Democrats, who were cosponsors of the Authorization of Force get a free pass from the DNC rank and file?

The 10 house members are:

1. Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-5]
2. Cramer, Robert E. (Bud), Jr. [AL-5]
3. Dooley, Calvin M. [CA-20]
4. Edwards, Chet [TX-11]
5. Hall, Ralph M. [TX-4]
6. Holden, Tim [PA-6]
7. Israel, Steve [NY-2]
8. Lantos, Tom [CA-12]
9. McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21]
10. Ross, Mike [AR-4]