Stop The War IN CONGRESS

True the Democrat party achieved a slight majority in the Senate and slightly larger percentage in the House. This does not mean that they alone have the right to determine all things. The Republicans and Independents have a right and a responsibility to be heard in debate of all issues coming before Congress. When one party controls the agenda be it in the house, senate or in committee, all elected representatives and senators must be allowed to be heard and their ideas voted upon. This is what citizens expect and deserve. I for one am tired of the smugness of Reid, Pelosi and their minions. Has this happened when another party was in the majority. Yes! Is it right? NO!!!!

We in America face many problems. The elected leadership are supposed to consider them in all facets with the wellbeing of the nation uppermost in their minds. When will we find more than a few who really care about our nation first and their personal power as the second or last motivating factor.

The Democrats have criticized whatever the President and Secretary of Defense have done or are doing. They offered no clear alternate plans and claimed it was not their responsibility. They do not want to assist the nation if that means the opposition power holders might be successful. General Petraeus was unanimously confirmed and now great efforts and many, many hours and days are being used to cut the very number of military he says he needs. I cannot see this is in the best interests of the country or the military. It is pandering to the "will of the citizens" who lack the ability often times to even identify who our leaders are, who the enemy is and the geographic location of areas of conflict. They campaign on their understanding of American government and the world situation and yet instead of leading the masses to understand the significance of the outcome of the conflicts in Iraq, they choose to follow the desires of those who are not doing the fighting and dying. This undercuts the opposition leadership and that is what they want to do. They dare someone to question their patriotism when they pursue what they feel makes them electable or re-electable instead of what is in our nation's interest. They posture, they orate about how great, wise and powerful they are while complaining loudly how dumb, stupid and wrong headed members of the opposite party are.

Stop this war in Congress. Do the job you were elected and are being paid to do. Remember your oath to support and defend the Constitution. Stop trying to run the executive branch until you learn how to effectively run the legislative branch. Allow free exchange of ideas, allow votes on issues, judges etc. that you do not personally support. You will then be identified as being able to lead, you will have merit which should be prerequisite to be elected or re-elected. You will have a chance to prove to the nation that you not only have principles, wisdom and patriotism but that you will stand for them when criticized.

“These are the times that try men’s souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”
-- Thomas Paine