Iraq Sellout Thursday: Call Congress Today
By Nicole Belle Tuesday May 06, 2008 1:30pmFrom Democrats.com:
On Thursday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi will force the House to approve $163 billion more of our tax dollars for the occupation of Iraq - nearly $100 billion for 2008 plus nearly $70 billion more for 2009.
We are outraged. This Democratic Congress was elected to end the occupation, not fund it forever.
On Monday, a new Democrats.com poll found an overwhelming 68% of Americans want to bring our troops safely home within 6 months - a significant increase from 54% last September. Support among Democrats increased 14% to 85%, while support among Independents increased 20% to 78%. Why is the Democratic Congress defying the will of the overwhelming majority of Democrats and Independents?
Each day's news underscores how disastrous the occupation is. April was the deadliest month for U.S. soldiers since last September. One in five Iraq and Afghanistan veterans - roughly 300,000 - report symptoms of PTSD or major depression. The V.A. covered up the fact that 12,000 veterans attempt suicide each year while under V.A. treatment. As Cindy Sheehan asked, "for what noble cause" are our sons and daughters suffering and dying?[..]
It's urgent for everyone to call your Representative today with a simple message: Not One More Penny for Iraq.
This battle is not impossible. On January 16, 42 progressive Democrats voted against the last $70 billion blank check. Most Republicans oppose Pelosi's bill because it includes some domestic spending, so a large bloc of progressive Democrats can defeat it.
Call the House switchboard at 202-224-3121 or find your Representative's name and direct dial by entering your address on the right side here .
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Bring the troops home NOW. This is ridiculous.
Nancy is a traitor
This time, a democratic senator will put a hold on the bill and kill it. This time there will be more than one person in congress that will not back down to a war criminal, and put an end to it.
Hillary Clinton says she'll stay in the presidential race
AP - 55 minutes ago
It's a myth that calling your representative will change anything.
But it was Ralph Nader who ruined all of our lives right? Even though he warned everyone about this. We need more than 2 parties because they know they won't ever have repercussions when there's only 2.
Lucy + Football ...
... Heckofa job Nancy!!
L.A. Confidential @ 4:
Obama supporters frothing at the mouth.
I just don't get it. There must be some behind the scene deals going on for the Democrats to simply fold on everything. The whole concept of "representation" is a cruel joke.
Two sides of the same capitalist coin.
If you post the NAME and NUMBER of the LEGISLATION it's a lot easier to communicate to our representatives.
Hint .. hint ..
Putty Pelosi
She must be getting street in the Green Zone Entertainment district named after her.
Nancy Pelosi Drive
I live in Nancy's district and I will be voting for Cindy Sheehan!
In search of moral fiber in our reps, maybe we need to insert some bran fiber to clear their minds.
I remember when she was referred to as "the liberal from San Francisco." She was the right's worst nightmare come true. What the fuck has she done that was remotely liberal?!?! Or even Democratic. Can we impeach the speaker of the house? Impeachment may be off the table for her, but I'm all for her being gone gone gone....
L.A. Confidential @ 9:
Obama can start campaigning against McCain now. Hillary needs 86% of the remaining delegates if the superdelegates split evenly, or 67% of all remaining delegates plus superdelegates.
I noticed that two Reps in my immediate area, including my own Rep, David Wu, are among those voting "Nay" on the last bill. Keep it up, David, you've got my vote this time around again.
Now we just have to get rid of Gordon "Gecko" Smith.
Does anyone know the number of the bill? It's not posted at Democrats.com either....
YourMom @ 18:
He'd be wise to not jump into the snake pit just yet.
ck @ 6:
You'll never break the duopoly without comprehensive electoral reform. Having third party candidates run for the presidency will not help anything. It will likely just hurt us the cause of making third parties viable.
Indeed, Nader has a solid point that both parties are beholden to the same interests. Nevertheless, had Gore taken his rightful seat in the Oval Office, we would not have gone to war with Iraq.
ck @ 6:
'zactly
except i would argue that we only have 2 wings of 1 party, not 2 parties.
*sniff, sniff* what's that?!? oh, the smell of a dying nation, gotcha~
No W Now @ 17:
Pelosi is a progressive member of the House. Her taking impeachment off the table, and her recent war stances are a major disappointment for me, but let's not pretend she's not a progressive in general. She has gotten progressive legislation through the House, such as raising the minimum wage. The problem is that whatever the House is willing to pass, the Senate Republicans are willing to filibuster, or Bush is willing to veto.
As for impeachment, no, we can't "impeach" a member of the House. But she'll be up for reelection like everyone else in the House in November. Cindy Sheehan will actually challenge her for her seat here. I doubt Pelosi will lose, but things could be interesting in terms of the pressures that are put on her.
Look at the bright side:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CqpEacxdS0
Harry Ried and Polosi have no back bone.
I wish they would let the Soldiers and Veterans speak.
http://www.ivaw.org/faq
If congress wants to get "elected" or "reelected..
..they need to start doing the right thing.
Net Neutraility Congress Campaign: save the Internet, ... Thanks Ron Wyden know....
http://markcrispinmiller.blogspot.com/2008/05/strong-defense-of-net-neut...
http://freepress.net
I don't think Pelosi can "force" the House to approve anything. Not a good choice of words IMO.
No, this dem congress was elected because we had two choices: Bush or NOT Bush. We all knew 2 months after they were elected that there was really only one choice. Why are you faigning surpise now, Nicole? You've had almost 2 years to come to grips with the reality of a one party system. It's a corpratocracy; get used to it.
I sent Nancy Pelosi a nice e-mail stating that I am in her congressional district. If she approves another dime for Iraq I am sending Cindy Sheehan a $500 check and joining her campaign.
http://www.sheehanforcongress.us/
Rusty Shackleford @ 28:
She has no formal powers to force people to vote a certain way. But she does have the formal powers to schedule when bills come to the floor, and a majority whip at her side to wield the necessary carrots and sticks, and make the necessary political bargains.
It's never a pretty sight to see the bases on which policy decisions are actually made in a legislature.
Major Mel Funkshun @ 20:
I just emailed my Congressman.
I called it the "Iraq-Afghanistan supplemental funding request for 2008 scheduled for vote this week."
We must also keep in mind that Afghanistan is still bad as well. By shifting more forces from Iraq to Afghanistan (which isn't very much) the U.S. may well lose both very fast. The numbers of troops and mercenaries just aren't there to contain both and both occupations rely more and more on domestic rivals to maintain stability. Therefore, given the amount of disapproval among the American people over all Pelosi's handing over this money to continue these occupations makes no sense. She may buy brownie points with the media and Republicans but it will only delay the inevitable.
President Obama will bring the troops home.
These Democrats are traitors. We voted these piles of shit in to office to take care of the Christian terrorist Bush regime's crimes against humanity and their own treason against us, and what do these piles of shit Democrats do? They commit even worse treason against us.
All these politicians are fascist pigs and traitors. There is no difference between Republinazis and Democrappers. None.
.
Inauguration day of 2009 will see more troops on the ground fighting/occupying Iraq than there were on election day of 2006.
And Democrats sell that as "CHANGE"...?
.
YourMom @ 18:
exactly. she can stay in she wants. no one needs to listen to her anymore.
Liberal AND Proud @ 34:
Not if we're going at it with Iran he won't.
This country has gone down the tubes not because of the Republicans, they're just doing what they always do, but because of the rank capitulation of Democrats and a media that continues to allow them to get away with it.
fiver @ 39:
Obviously. For seven years I've been saying WTF are these people doing besides NOTHING?
It's a farce.
Our representatives are only willy nilly because if they do not go along with maheim and destruction of the planet they will be sucided. If they try to step down there entire family fortune would be deprived.
L.A. Confidential @ 38:
We'll see if the 71% Disapproval Rating Pretzelnit has the stomach for that.
Even this country of sheeple can only be pushed so far. A long hot summer of $4+ gas should do wonders for this Administration.
I picture gallows bathed in sunlight on the grass beneath the Washington Monument.
Death Star @ 41:
Thats the key point. No more Big Houses, Perks, benefits, lobby money, etc etc.
You go along or it's destitution.
Joe O. @ 33:
I think the first thing that the New President needs to do is assess whether or not AL Queda even exists anymore. I don't trust any of the assessments coming out of the Bush Administration. It may very well be that the War on Terror is no longer necessary. If this is the case then we need to pull our troops out of Afghanistan as well as Iraq.
I want to know why they never, NEVER insist that the funding is attached to mandates for oversight and BID contracts instead of no-bid. $1 more for this war is too much, but they could cut that 160 billion down to about 20 billion if someone would put a stop to the war profiteering.
L.A. Confidential @ 38:
The Iranians seem like reasonable people; I don't see why Obama can't negotiate a ceasefire with Iran.
Liberal AND Proud @ 42:
Eye for eye huh?
I Like Pie @ 46:
A ceasefire? I wasn't aware that we were at war with Iran. Or does the President now no longer even need to TELL the American People he is taking the country to war.
The Democrats should have cut off funding for this bloody senseless war as soon as they realized they'd been "had". Instead, most of them have co-sponsored the carnage. Like the Republicans, their hands are covered with blood that can never be washed off.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (R).
L.A. Confidential @ 47:
I refer to it as the conservative's brand of justice. I mean...we don't need no stinkin' courts. They just slow up the process...right?
I just called both of my Senators and the Rep for my state.
I got a couple of surprise responses from the interns/secretaries.
Response 1 - "Thank you Ill pass the message to him". - Sen Inouye's office
Response 2 - (very smartass tone from the Intern) - "Well thank you for your opinion" Sen. Akaka's office
Response 3 - "We have been getting alot of calls on this today, and I will be sure your voice is heard". Rep Mazie Hirono's office.
If you truly want an end to the war, do what you can within your power to stop it. AT least I know my voice was heard, what they do with it is up to them.
I'll do follow up calls tomorrow based on each of their votes.
Liberal AND Proud @ 48:
Not now he doesn't. All it takes is one slip. And we'll wake up at war with Iran.
My fella muricans. While you were ASLEEP last night Iranian boats attacked American Forces. I've hereby ordered the military to strike Iranian targets. . . etc
You know the pitch
Every dollar spent on this war is taken away from public education, healthcare, and im[proving the USA infrastructure.
Every life lost in this illegal occupation of a foreign country is a WASTE.
I NEVER had any confidence in Harry Reid, but I thought Pelosi was cut from a different cloth. I was wrong.
SEND A STATEMENT TO PELOSI
All you Californians in Pelosi's district will have an opportunity to vote against her in the primary on June 3. DO IT. In the general election of November, VOTE AGAINST HER AGAIN!
I don't think we have any chance of beating her machine, but we can at least make it uncomfortable for her. The sooner we get rid of that old school twerp the better.
L.A. Confidential @ 53:
The only pitch I want to see is Cheney pitching over clutching his heart and falling on top of the Pretzelnit.
Good luck with that.
They are one party united like Obama wanted.
There is no leadership or specific plans for the future.
Just hope.
You are on your own.
Well here it is. If the dems really want to end the occupation, all they have to do is sit on their hands and do nothing. Thats the sad truth about this mess. Democrats are just as culpable because they are enabling it to continue. Sad.
If you really are confused over why our government doesn't represent the majority of americans jut watch the following video. It explains it rather well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk8pxyAWTBk
Liberal AND Proud @ 56:
F*ck you Nancy.
Great drama on C Span.
They are arguing if we are in a recession.
A Dem said yes, a gop called her a liar.
Lord help us.
Geez.
Democrats in congress are scared of being called 'unpatriotic'. Basically republicans are saying, 'if you donot fund the war, you donot support the troops'. more than 70% of the American people are behind the democrats in bringing troops home, and all they care about is being called 'unpatriotic'. Are you kidding me? I never supported Pelosi when she said 'impeachment is off the table'. The unease that I was feeling was, WHY?? How can it be off the table when such treasons are being committed in this unjust war of choice. If Bush has committed treason then how can impeachment be off the table? Who is she to decide anyway? The constitution does not side her and she is parading the sentiment quite opposite of the fouding fathers. Not one US congressman/senator is ready to step up to the plate and stop the funding for the war. Not one democratic member of house and senate can care less about Russ Feingold's censure resolution or Levin-Biden_Hagel ammendment to not go through with the surge. This is enough. Have some balls for godsake. What are you scared of? 70% of American people backing you is not enough? How much more you need? 80%? 90%? 100%? Even then I doubt Democrats in congress are going to do anything about this. Nancy's got big eyes in her Speaker prowess and has completely lost her priorities. Thank you.
Joe O. @ 33:
We should be in neither country. This "war on terror" is nothing but a genocidal campaign against Muslim tribes by Christofascists, anyhow. Just look at what's happening in Somalia and in the People's Republic of China. Bush is an idiot to think you can fight an abstraction with guns and bombs anyhow. What's called "terrorism" today was Nihilism in Tsarist Russia and piracy against Great Britain anyhow. This country is led by idiots. Not that Vladimir Putin and Ali Khameini are much better choices. Or (shudder) God forbid, Al-Maliki...
Nancy needs to get creative. We've seen this script before. How about she proposes something that has funding, but a timetable?
Great. Just fuckin peachy. They ALL need to go and begin again. or not. And their salaries should end. I'm pissed.
Way to show off how reasonable you are, guys.
Look, it's pretty simple. You all ought to know it. We don't have the votes to end the war. If we defund the war, THINK about what happens to all of the men and material on the ground - generous estimates say it'll take at LEAST a year to get our boys and OUR STUFF out of Iraq. So unless you guys want to leave stockpiles of weapons and TANKS around the place (not to mention pay to replace them when we get home), we're going to HAVE to pull out of Iraq WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE PRESIDENT.
THEREFORE, unless we want to hand the Republicans a "Democrats don't support the troops" election issue, we have to fund the war until we can get a Democrat in office to responsibly begin withdrawal.
We have to get out of this thing as quickly as we can, while still trying to give the Iraqi's one last chance to go "oh shit, if we don't compromise and govern we're gonna have a civil war", AND doing everything we can to preserve the structural integrity (in terms of infrastructure and equipment) of our military.
Funding this bullshit war through 2009 is the only way.
Liberal AND Proud @ 48:
We've imposed Sanctions on Iran- sanctions are an act of war.
The problem with the democratic congress isn't that they have no backbone and are scared of being called patriotic- but that they're liars that DO believe in this war. They have the power to end it whenever they want but instead choose to continue stealing the American people's money so more blood can flow in Iraqi streets.
Democrat and Republican? There's no difference. With Hilary Clinton's rhetoric against Iran I don't see her bringing a difference. People say Obama is more for open dialogue but if you look on his foreign policy issues regarding Iran on his website- it says plainly that if Iran doesn't abandon its Nuclear program he would continue the economic pressure and isolation and would also continue the large amount of foreign aid we provide to Israel(and of course other countries) .
These are disgusting and immoral policies that both sides support.
John Hussein @ 67:
Of course the blame is always laid on the Iraqi's. Why ignore the fact that the reason there is no compromise is because the united states is backing the faulty prime minister of Iraq who's done nothing but try to destroy dissent amongst the population? we've backed him not just with political support but with airstrikes that blow up peoples houses and leave sewage all over the place.
Its not that hard to create a bill that would require the funds to only be used for withdrawal purposes- and not put any other bills up to the table that would continue the occupation to force the president to sign it into law.
And anybody actually expected better of Pelosi? What we need is to put her, and Hoyer and a few other out of work this November.
This is an issue Obama can finally show some leadership on.
I bet he will go with the spineless dems and his talk on getting the troops out is just talk.
So...170 billion $$ now in mid May 2008 for Iraq Occupation?
A year from now with this funding in place for some portion of 2009 Iraq Occupation ongoing operations what then?
More needed again? How much more? Until when? This is endless self-deception.
It has become a very wicked game of 'kick the can'.
Does Nancy or the Washington DC Democrats she in theory 'leads' understand that this decision to keep funding this martial/moral/fiscal unbound disaster of American Occupation in Iraq while suggesting the end to it is to come 'later when we can do it' is an utmost manifestation of political cowardness?
Americans in Iraq now or who are sent there over next 12 months who are ordered to attack and kill Iraqis simply because these Iraqis are trying to evict Americans from Iraq are being abused/misused for purposes of evasion of political duty and right thing to do in WashingtonDC.
Nancy Pelosi has no claim anymore to moral,ethical or fiscal political authority.
Where does she think this willingness to not do what must be done now in favor of some supposed or suggested 'better time in future' is going?
A year ago where was Nancy on this? And where now?
It is venal and Nancy Pelosi and the craven Democrats who choose to follow her deserve little more then outright contempt.
What they are not doing for fear of doing it is in all ways contemptible.
Jesus H. Christ on a crutch! More money freely offered up by dems to Bush's rathole of a war... So, what the hell is going on here!!??? What the fuck are you up to Nancy!!??? Cause it sure as hell isn't doing what your consituents want... I hate to involk the name, but I am anyway.. Since he is one of her biggest cheerleaders... Paul in L.A.... Got any explanation on this shit??? It's not like she put impeachment back on the table and couldn't get the votes guy... That 'can't get the votes' story isn't going to fly in this situation...
As another poster indicated.. All she has to do to stop this insane money hemmoraging is just sit on her ass and refuse to
play along. Congress has to approve or no money goes any fucking place... Are there some special conditions attached to this latest money givaway to fund this freaking-ass illegal bullshit??? Like maybe the money is to be used solely to fund troop removal? I gotta figure no, otherwise that tidbit of knowledge would be plastered all over the place.. Nope, just appear like another typical dem, same as it ever was, cavein to another bit of Bush bullshit of wanting money we ain't got to wage continuous war for FUCK knows why!!!
Nancy? Near as I can tell..You are fucking blowing it lady... A-GAIN! You've been hiking your skirts so often for these cretins over the last year I gotta wonder whose bed you really sleep in at night. You are proving to be totally worthless to progressives, dems in general and the nation specifically....FUCK! O.K. Paul in L.A.... I'm askin again, what's the story, got anything to say in defense of this latest piece of shit funding with Ms. Pelosi's fingerprints all over it???
God-DAMMIT!!! I guess I'm going to have to vote for Sheehan even though I don't think she is really up to the task... At least she won't bend over and spreadem every-damn-time Dick and George wants to get a piece of tail. Jesus, what a fucking disappointment this so-called dem congress is... What a pack of Queslings...................JD
Shoaib Qadri @ 69:
At which point the Democrats see if they can out-stubborn the most fundamentalist, moronic, self-deluded president America has ever known. Sir, I think I see a flaw in your plan...
Bush will veto it, then Fox news, talk radio, and every Republican everywhere will start yelling about how the Democrats are shutting down the government in the middle of a recession, and like it or not (and I don't) the American public will GO FOR IT, because pretty much everybody is now more concerned with recession than with the war. And when everyone is freaking out, like we all are, then taking this stand is absolute political suicide.
And follow that through to the end. THEN McCain gets elected, and we stay in Iraq for another FOUR years instead of one.
Pelosi is taking the most sensible course of action to ensure the end of the war AND Democratic control of the Presidency so that we can finally start cleaning up after the worst President of all time.
John Hussein @ 74:
There's no reason to give 170 billion dollars to continue the war that doesn't help anyone. The majority of the American public dissaprove of the war and will know exactly who's continuing it if Bush veto's a bill that was designed for withdrawal. There is no logic behind the argument that we MUST provide billions of dollars to the war to ensure the end of it. Bush can veto all he wants but eventually he'll have to cave in or congress will need to override his veto once there are lives at stake since there is no more funding going to the troops there.
Who cares about what Fox-news Republicans say? Those types are in support of the war in the first place and are a minority- they do not effect the majority of Americans in their opinion.
If people are more concerned about the recession then the war- then why the hell would they be opposed to congress refusing to provide more funding to our occupation?!? We don't have any money to support it and have to inflate our currency and lower the purchasing power of all americans to continue it. Even if we have to leave some equipment behind it would still be more beneficial to this country than providing more FUNDS for the occupation.
John Hussein@74;
Well buddy, you, I, and everyone better hope to whomever the favorite diety of the moment is that you are right about this strategy you offer.. This 'Pelosi is taking the most sensible course of action' meme you are putting out here... Otherwise we are ALL just being punked out and robbed blind again over this bullshit war.. And we will still be here bitching about it and taking sides 'two', not one, friggin years from now... And in the meantime? Just how many more people breathing and living at this exact moment, from America, Iraq, and any other nation caught up in this shit will be dead and buried over it because our political leaders are cowards trying to play some kind of political run out the clock GAMES! Yea, I'm pissed.. I'm fucking sick and tired of this shit.. Eight fucking years of this Bush nightmare and it just never freaking ends.... Not even when he's finally gone next year... My real plea is simple.. END THIS GODDAMNED WAR NOW! NOT NEXT YEAR, NOT NEXT MONTH... NOW! Cut the funds or put ironclad stipulations on its use in place. What the fuck is sooo hard about that... Bush vetos? Fine, then he's the motherfucker who won't fund the troops so they can come home... THAT'S the reality of how that plays out.....JD
Shoaib Qadri @ 75:
Of course there's logic behind it. Just because you choose not to address it doesn't mean it isn't there. What I find surprising is that you transition immediately from asserting that I've made an illogical argument to saying that if the Democrats force Bush to veto enough bills, eventually he'll either cave or congress will override him. Because "there are lives at stake". As if that has made a lick of difference to the man thus far. THAT is an illogical position. All I'm saying is that we have to keep this thing going until us adults can come along and withdraw from Iraq in a sensible fashion.
Dismissing Fox News is a nice thought - we'd all love to get rid of THAT propaganda outfit - but like it or not this country is filled with people who listen to those assholes. It is simply unrealistic to believe that we can ignore them, and I would argue that we've gotten to this place by ASSUMING that our better nature will pull through in the face of their propaganda efforts. The reality is that it doesn't. We CAN'T ignore the potential propaganda value of our good-faith actions. No matter how safe we may feel, this coming election is too important to get sloppy.
"If people are more concerned about the recession then the war- then why the hell would they be opposed to congress refusing to provide more funding to our occupation?!?"
-Don't play those games with me. That's a strawman. What I said was that Democrats would be vulnerable if we shut down the business of the government in order to take a stand against the war. If you frame the question the way you did, nobody would be opposed. But again, we know that Fox news and all the Republican propaganda machine aren't gonna do that, don't we?
We have to deal with the reality of now, and the reality of now is that we can not afford to take the Republican propaganda machine lightly.
Jack Damage @ 76:
Hey, man, we're ALL fucking pissed. This insane bullshit should have never happened in the first goddamn place. In 2000 I was ready to riot in the streets, amazed that such an obvious coup was taking place in our country. In 2004 I was CERTAIN that this country could not possibly be so stupid (although I do believe the election was stolen again, I also believe a vast number of our countrymen were actually convinced Bush was doing a good job).
I don't want to risk this next election just to try and force a withdrawal that Bush would never allow (and would fuck up beyond all benefit even if he actually did it). I don't believe the "Pottery Barn" meme about Iraq ("I swear, officer, the country was broke when we got there!"), but if the right President is in charge of withdrawing our troops we can do a lot of effective triage in the region. Considering how badly fucked up everything is there right now, I believe we have to be exceptionally careful and judicious about how we get out. And I just don't trust Bush to do that, even if we could somehow find some way to force him that wasn't political suicide for us.
Shoaib Qadri @ 75:
No war ever helps anyone. War is a horrible, cruel monstrosity that has been with us since we first split from chimps.
And the hell of it with this war is that while we're illegally occupying a country setting ourselves up for the Mother of All Blowbacks, nobody cares because you don't see the coffins, or the bodies shredded by bombs, or the mothers holding their shrieking, bleeding children after an insurgent sets off a suicide bomb.
War ain't nice, and unless we see the full horror of this as we did 'Nam, no-one will care.
I agree with the above posting # 77.
This whole thread started on a false premise.
The 170 billion is needed to cover the war through the election so we don't have to be distracted by bogus charges of not being patriotic enough during the election cycle.
It's that simple.
The funding is needed to get through the election with the president a Democrat!
Seriously.
All you Pelosi haters are clueless or concern trolls.
Our majority is a paper thin line that she and Dean have brought in to play and are driving it into the Blue come election day!!
-nuff said
John Hussein@78;
OK, I get it.. I don't agree with it, but I understand where you are coming from and why... I ain't going to butt heads with you on Iraq withdrawal stretegy, I don't agree with waiting any longer, because it is just encouraging these bastards to continue and do even worse (U.S./Iran war anyone??).. But I know you ain't the only one who feels waiting for a dem president is a better strategy than trying to get the chimp to do the right thing.... And for sure you and I are in 100% agreement on a number of the things you just said.. Yes, this clusterfuck should never have happened, yes, I agree, both those elections were stolen, and finally, yes, I too, don't trust George W. Bush to conduct a withdrawal from Iraq without turning that into a fubar
just like everything else he and his admin flunkies have touched...
I do, however, believe contrary to your views if I understand them correctly, that IF the dems in congress right now would get their shit together, display any actual leadership and even a tiny bit of courage, that they could force Bush into a corner on this and make shit happen sooner and thus save some lives all around.... They got 70% of the population easily on their side, and I think that would would mitigate the rightwing pundit echo-chamber b.s.... Overall, It's hard for me to square playing the politics of a waiting strategy, against the lives I know are going to be lost or maimed between now and a real dem led end to this catatrophe......JD
How many of you posting on here actually called your Represenatives today?
It would be nice if there was come way C&L could require that, in order to post on topics as specifc and important as this one, you should at the MINIMUM contact your Rep and let your opinion be heard, regardless of where you stand on the issue.
Make the call, have your voice heard. Show them we are not all asleep at the wheel.
from the googlenews page:
Highlights of proposed Iraq war funding bill
San Jose Mercury News - 1 hour ago
AP WASHINGTON—The House could vote as early as Thursday on a $195 billion Democratic bill to fund military and diplomatic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan into next spring.
US House Democrats favor timetable for Iraq troops Reuters
Troop withdrawal added to war funding bill CNN
i don't know why they bother...
i'd give link to "Highlights" but AP crashes my browser...
If the Dems sell the people out (**ONCE AGAIN!), this time the people will call for their heads and their seats in Congress. It will be not the first, not the second, but the third case of "derelection of duty" and outright lies during the midterms. Nancy Pelosi is the saddest excuse for a leader and Reid comes in at a close second. They've screwed the american people by lying in our faces, getting us to give the Dems the majority, and then shafting us by doing absolutely NOTHING. Surely, the obstructionist Repukes thwarted them at every try but "roll over and play dead" is definitely NOT something we bargained for and not something the hard-earned salaries of the american people intend to continue to support.
Out with all the frauds in Congress beginning with Madam Pelosi!
I wish someone would ask one of these congressmen what anal orifice they intend to use to pull another $195 billion while the country is falling apart? This is the most digusting congress EVER in the history of this country.
Wbitter hussein katy @ 83:
This is why Obamamania is taking control of this democracy! He brings the hope of an untained, honest president. Surely Hillary is contaminated by all of the evils of her husband's presidency, along with her own self-inflicted wounds like being caught in a sniper fire lie. She will NEVER wiggle her way out of that one. Not in a matchup against McCain....not in her dreams.
osiris @ 87:
She's also a thief, she should be in jail right now or on bail awaiting trial.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7007109937779036019
I called my representative's [Hank Johnson - D/Ga] office [use the toll free number for the capitol switchboard-1-800-828-0498 and ask for your rep's office] - they said he will vote for it if a troop withdrawal timetable is included. I said I had enough of that tomfoolery timetable crap and if he votes YES, then I'm voting for his Republican challenger in November, after all what's the difference? In an earlier comment someone said the minimum wage was progressive, bullshit, cut some funds out of our 3/4 trillion defense budget and apply it for education and decent schools - now that's progressive!
i just emailed the honorable henry waxman.
if he votes yes, in favor; i will vote no, for his continued seat in congress.
John Hussein @ 77:
They wouldn't be shutting down the business of the government in taking the stand against the war- they'd be shutting down the war. Congress can still continue with their other activities. You still haven't explained the logic behind giving an amount of 170 billion dollars to the war effort- its not going to do much to save the lives of the troops stationed there(since most of it is going to contractors), so no there is no reason to keep it going.
And again the people who listen to Fox News are in support of the war anyway so it doesn't matter what they say. They're not going to change majority of public opinion into voting for McCain. People aren't going to begin to dislike the democrats because they found out the war funding stopped- the war funding is why people are leaving the democrats right now.
The bill number would have been helpful, so when I call, I can say which one I'm objecting to.
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