Rangel Wrangled By Dems On Draft

That didn't take too long.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A reinstatement of the military draft, being pushed by a senior Democrat, will not be slated for consideration in the House of Representatives, the chamber's newly elected top leaders said on Monday.

"We did not include that" in legislative plans for early next year, said Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, who will be House majority leader when the new Congress convenes in January under Democratic control for the first time in 12 years.

Priceless. Credit for Hoyer speaking up, assuming Pelosi is in agreement. Of course, she could always turn around and say the opposite. My mistake, Pelosi already nixed the draft, too.

Incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California told reporters on Monday that she does not support reinstating the draft, which was suspended in 1973 near the end of the Vietnam War and replaced by the all-volunteer army.

The real problem is that Rangel obviously came up with that on his own and just put it out there. That's a sign of disorganization, or lack of discipline within the caucus. Rangel went off message, or more precisely, created his own message and ran with it.

Something tells me the Dems don't quite have the hang of this governing thing. If they're smart, they'll get it under control before the new Congress.

Libs will deny it, but this is another check mark against Pelosi's ability to control her colleagues. Rangel wasn't talking about some local pork project. A national draft is a serious matter. He didn't feel he needed to talk to the leadership before proposing it??

I wonder how many of these types of events we'll see if Pelosi wants the Dems to look like grown-ups, but has a bunch of giddy, liberal kids in control of committees for the first time in over a decade.

That's entertainment, folks!

Comments

[Steven Den Beste]

Of course they won't spend time considering reimposition of the draft. They're going to be much too busy bringing in articles of impeachment!

[Dan Riehl]

articles of impeachment

Sad, but quite possibly true. They've never gotten over Clinton and the 2000 and 2004 elections only made it worse. If only they would direct some of that negative energy at our real enemies.

[Steven Den Beste]

How foolish you are. The Republicans are the real enemy.

[Jim]

If the Democrats seem unified, it's because Pelosi is a strong-arming bully. If one of them does something stupid, as Rangel did, then it's because she's a weak and incompetent leader.

[Cindi]

Absolutely. If someone under my direction at work does something out of line,my responsibility would be to correct them. Failing to do so,would hold me accountable. Isn't that why we have leaders?

[Purple Avenger]

"If the Democrats seem unified..."

Last time that ever happened FDR was president.

[Miriam]

Rangel is a demagogue. He knows what he's doing. He knows very well that we are not reinstating the draft. All this is grandstanding. Looks well in the NYTimes.