The resolution "urged" Michigan's coastal communities to adopt a specific set of guide lines as to what forms of boating would be considered "sailing".

This resolution was viewed as offensive to Congressman Jason Giambi whose district had many amateur "sailors" that didn't fit the guidelines of the resolution.  Giambi blasted Sheffield and his resolution saying that Congress shouldn't pass any resolution that did not give the full support of "all sailors".  Giambi then offered his own non-binding resolution supporting all boating and that no such guidelines should be established.

In comes Congressman Barry Bonds, determined to find a compromise between the two different resolutions, offers his own supporting all forms of boating and "suggesting" guidelines to Michigan's coastal communities as to what forms of boating should be considered "sailing" that the communities could then to choose to, or not to adopt.

Thankfully, that's when my alarm went off.  And before I realized how insane my dream actually was, I lectured myself on why I am as motivated to participate in the political process as I am.

But let's be honest, where does this sound familiar?  Sure Gary Sheffield, Jason Giambi and Barry Bonds are baseball players.  Sure the debate centered on Iraq is far more important and dire to any debate on "sailing", but in principal, the absurdity of my dream reflects exactly on the absurdity that has been going on in Washington DC.

To paraphrase Stephen Colbert, a non-binding resolution is basically an oxymoron.  So not only is the United States Senate doing nothing (something they have repeatedly been accused of since the signing of the constitution), but they are now debating, for the better part of three months, as to exactly how they should do nothing.

In the meantime we have men and women in uniform fighting in Iraq and in the United States knowing that they will soon be in Iraq knowing that Democratic majority in both houses of Congress believes they are sacrificing their lives for a "failed strategy".  In essence, they're being told that they will fail before they have even tried.  But have no fear, these same Democrats emphatically "SUPPORT" our troops.  I'm still left wondering how that is possible!

Thankfully, nobody in the military is paying any attention to this debate.  The soldiers that I've known that I've talked to have told me this.  But they have also told me that they would welcome a "real" debate, a substantial debate on whether or not funding will continue for the war effort in Iraq.  Their attitude seemed to be "if the Senate is going to debate this war, then they ought to debate it, not just conjur up half-measures and symbolic gestures".

But they have also told me that, on the seldom occasion that the debate is discussed, that our troops are in agreement that the Senate is not sending a message to the Iraqis or the President.  They're sending a message to our enemies and that message is being received loud and clear:  "YOU'RE WINNING!"