How Far We've Come

Before the Iraq War, Rep. Charles Rangel proposed reintroducing the draft, a move I considered political theater designed to impede our hawkish administration -- Rangel seemed to think that Rumsfeld et al. would slow down if their sons and daughters manned the front lines.


Today, Senator Chuck Hagel told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that deteriorating conditions in Iraq may force the US to reintroduce the draft -- the political jest of 15 months earlier seemed poised to become a sad reality.

What a difference a year makes.

This week in 1998, Clinton dodged and denied questions about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Eventually, this peccadillo would lead to his impeachment.

Clinton's bedroom behavior ultimately led to Bush's campaign of "restoring honor and dignity to the White House," and to Al Gore's defeat in the 2000 Presidential Election.

Earlier this week -- in 2004 -- Bob Woodward announced that the Bush Administration had siphoned $700 million away from the war in Afghanistan to prepare for the coming Iraqi War. I'm no constitutional scholar, but I'd say that funds drawn from the treasury without Congress's approval sounds a bit like high crimes and misdemeanors to me.

Meanwhile, Bush backers continue to support their self-destructive candidate, and Bush's lead over Kerry increased in several polls.

What a difference 6 years make.