[F]or more than three years this Congress, which has been given the name 'The Do-Nothing Congress,' has turned a blind eye to the intractable war in Iraq, ignoring the Administration's many mistakes, allowing it to stay a failed course. Here we are with six days left in the 109th Congress, and the Republicans, which control the House and the Senate and the White House, have not held one hearing, not one, into the President's wartime failures.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Reid accuses the Republican-controlled Congress of ignoring wartime failures and avoiding hearings on the Iraq War.
- In plain terms
- The Congress ignored Iraq War mistakes and held no hearings while Republicans controlled the government.
- What can you take from it?
- Inaction during crises undermines congressional responsibility.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How should Congress handle wartime oversight?
- What is the cost of ignoring policy failures?
Another view
Accusations of doing nothing can be countered by pointing to other legislative work.
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The Republicans should not pick this fight. I've been in more boxing rings then all of them combined. And when you throw a punch at me, you end up on the mat.
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