Senate and Smith cave to war spending

The US Senate, excluding Senator Gordon Smith, has nominally "stood up" to Bush by approving another $165.5 billion to occupy another country in another part of the world. The mainstream media are shamelessly portraying this obscene vote as some sort of profile in courage because they "joined" the Democrats who wanted to add a bit for veterans' benefits and they tossed in a bit for Katrina victims. From an Associated Press report:
"Senators voted 70-26 to approve $165 billion to fulfill Bush's request for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan into next spring, when Bush's successor will set war policy."

In other words, nothing changed. This argument ("I've gotta vote for war or Katrina victims won't get help") has been used since the earliest funding of this immoral, illegal war and occupation. Gordon Smith is somehow credited with having peaceloving values. His values are his own business, but his voting record is clear; he is remarkably inconsistent in his rhetoric but rock solid in his war spending when it really matters. The weaponeers, the big war profiteers, and Big Oil all love Gordon Smith.

If you love war, vote for Smith. If you love peace, choose another candidate. His talk and his walk are vastly different and he can vote to spend far more than the government has and hope to make more friends (just look at the Elizabeth Furse-led Democrats for Smith, who seem to benefit from Smith votes), but his war support is unwavering. Vote your conscience.