30 minutes of life support left

[Sydnie]

In 30 minutes or less, the Senate will begin to vote on the Defense Appropriations bill. Many things are included in this bill that will make it very hard for many to vote against .. Katrina relief, heating assistance, ... many tough and needed things.

It also includes ANWR drilling. This portion was added AFTER the committee signed off on the legislation. It violates rule 28 of the Senate that no bill will be changed in such a way after an agreement has been reached. Stevens broke this rule to add ANWR to this bill.

If we allow this bill to pass, even though there are many things that are good about this bill, we will be letting go of all control and all decorum in our government. Anyone will be able to slip in anything at anytime without feeling the need to explain or raise a quorum for it's inclusion.

We will be kissing our democracy goodby, never to rise again as we knew it.

It's bigger than just the drilling in ANWR. It's if we are going to make our elected officials follow rules that are long standing or are we going to make them up as we go along.

We have already seen the Republicans change the rules to make things better for their members (Delay ring a bell?). We know they are capable to do it again. Will we stand by quietly and let it happen again? I certainly hope not.

Stevens can ask that ANWR be removed and the bill will pass with the good things in tact. If he doesn't, we can call a new conference and try again for these good things. Or, we can stand by silently and let them break the rules and make them up as they go along, and it won't matter who runs things there, there will be no integrity left for us in government at all.

I, for one, fear for my government and all of our futures.