Spaceballs

I met Mel Brooks’ daughter Stephanie at a party in Manhattan in the late 70’s. I think my friend may have actually got her phone number. Did you know that Mel Brooks’ birth name was Melvin Kaminsky? Mel wrote, directed, and starred in the 1987 film Spaceballs. My favorite lines from the edited version of that movie go something like this:

Colonel Sandurz: That is his name sir. Moron, Major Moron!
Dark Helmet: And his cousin?
Colonel Sandurz: He's a moron too sir. Gunner's mate First Class Philip Moron!
Dark Helmet: How many morons have we got on this ship, anyhow?
[Entire bridge crew stands up and raises a hand]
Entire Bridge Crew: Yo!
Dark Helmet: I knew it. I'm surrounded by morons! [Closes helmet] Keep firing, morons!

[See http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Spaceballs]

Have you wondered how the United States got into this incredible mess in Iraq? And it is a dangerous, deadly, holy, expensive, disastrous mess. Retired Army Lt. General William Odom summed it up best by saying that the invasion of Iraq was the “greatest strategic disaster in United States history.”

Who was steering the ship that created this disaster? It was not just George W. Bush and his team of incompetents. It was not just the Neocons in the Republican Party that rushed and bullied us to war. Joint Resolution 114 (“To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq”) was sponsored by Representatives Dennis Hastert and Richard Gephardt. It was supported in the Senate by 77 YEAs and 23 NAYs. It was supported in the House by 296 YEAs, 133 Nays, with three not voting (did those three have something more important to do…).

Therein lies the true problem that now confronts us. Very, very few Republicans voted against the authorization for the war. But too many Democrats voted for the authorization for the war. Those YEA Democrats now find themselves in the most awkward position of rationalizing their support for the war. We depended on them to do better - to ask more questions, to look at more facts, to look at more alternatives. They too failed the Democratic Party and the country.

We are not just talking small potato politicians here. Of course we know that Senators John Kerry and John Edwards voted to authorize the war. But so did Senators Biden, Clinton, Daschle, Feinstein, Lieberman, and Rockefeller amongst others.

Our leaders in the House did better. But Representatives Frost, Gephardt, and Murtha were still on the YEA side.

I’m very pleased to report that my Representative – The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson – voted NAY! Of course Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and former Senator Phil Gramm voted YEA. YEA George, anything you want, even if many people will die.

Senator Barbara Boxer (http://www.pacforachange.com/) of California – one of my new political heroines – voted NAY. Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts voted NAY. The late Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone voted NAY. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi – Democratic Leader of the House – voted NAY.

And now 2130 U.S. military people are confirmed dead – four death confirmations are pending. The Iraqi war dead are probably in the tens of thousands. Because of the totally erroneous Republican position and the selfish and awkward balancing act of some of our Democratic leaders, the war drags on. So few have completely admitted their mistake like Congressman John Murtha did. Instead, they want to find a graceful out so that they can retain that most important [to them] political leverage. But no graceful out exists in this situation. And people continue to die every day in Iraq. Every day their lack of contrition leads to more American and Iraqi deaths. Every day.

We all need to come to grips with the extent of our mistakes over Iraq. Then we need to realistically look at our options for a reasonable exit. Until then, American and Iraqi men and women will continue to die. American blood is on the hands of George W. Bush, the Republican Party, and even many of our Democratic leaders. It is high time that they all confront their mistakes and correct them. But they need not listen to me or even to the public that elected them. Ultimately, God will be their judge. And they best hope that He is most merciful when their day comes.