Rat...the system worked as well as it could with the party in power at the time of the invasion failing to perform its Congressional oversight reponsiblities (as you say, a rubber stamp).
For three years after the invasion, the American people showed patience with the Pres, even when it became clear that there was no post-Saddam stabilization policy and repeated failures in each subsequent tweaking of the "stay the course" policy.
At the time, the Dems (and a few Repubs) attenpted to performed their "check and balance" responsibilites, under what Ace incorrectly described as a "blank check" resolution, by repeatedly requesting Bush to comply with the resolution's reporting requirements (among other attempted oversight actions):
Quote:
SEC. 4. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
(a) The President shall, at least once every 60 days, submit to the Congress a report on matters relevant to this joint resolution, including actions taken pursuant to the exercise of authority granted in section 3 and the status of planning for efforts that are expected to be required after such actions are completed....
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With the Bush/Rumsfeld continued intransigence and blatant dismissal of the will of the minority party in Congress for 2+ years to account for their policies and actions, the American people utilized the system, sided with that minority and voted for a change.
The unfortunate shortcoming of the system is that it slogs along in two year intervals before it can act in a manner that may seek a change of direction or demand a greater justification to continue on the same course.... even if those actions brand the re-emerged purveyors of the "checks and balances" as hypocrits who lack conviction in the eyes of those who "get it" and "know what they know" but cant support it with facts.
Quote:
After more than a decade of dormancy, House Democratic leaders have reconstituted the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee. The panel -- the only one of its kind in Congress -- will put Bush administration defense policies under the microscope.
The subcommittee's re-establishment sends an unmistakable message that the Democratic-led House is serious in its intent to pick apart President Bush's defense spending and military strategy in fighting terrorism, and it expresses what party leaders say is a public mandate to hold the administration accountable for years of policy blunders.
Chaired by Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass., the new subcommittee will delve into the details of Iraq-related reconstruction contracts, troop readiness, equipment priorities and Iraq war strategy -- looking for waste, fraud and shortfalls that were essentially ignored after the panel was shuttered in 1995 by the Republican congressional majority.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0107/2512.html
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Political grandstanding? Playing fun and games while our troops are in harms way?
Or a serious commitment to fully assume the intended roll of Congress?
The American people will decide, not one lone wolf howling in the wind.