Talks, but No Breakthrough, on Iraq War Spending Measure

The New York Times ^ | May 19, 2007 | CARL HULSE

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

WASHINGTON, May 18 — Congressional Democrats and the White House remained at odds over a war spending measure on Friday after a crucial negotiating session ended with both sides expressing disappointment and accusing the other of being intractable.

Democrats said the White House chief of staff, Joshua B. Bolten, rejected their offer to eliminate non-Pentagon spending and give President Bush the authority to waive a timeline for withdrawal of troops from Iraq in return for their approval of about $95 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through Sept. 30.

“No — everything was no,” said Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, characterizing the response by White House officials and Republican leaders of the House and Senate who took part in the talks.

Republicans said they were caught by surprise by the Democratic posture in the meeting, in the offices of the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, given that Mr. Bush has already vetoed one spending measure containing a withdrawal timeline and has made it clear that he will not accept such a proposal.

“The Democratic leaders did talk about having timelines for withdrawal that might be waivable,” Mr. Bolten told reporters after the morning meeting, saying Democrats seemed dug in on the timeline issue. “We consider that to be not a significant distinction.”

Democrats and the White House had expressed willingness to bargain in recent days, with Democrats saying they were committed to producing a bill the president could sign before leaving town on a Memorial Day break. Despite the continuing impasse, Ms. Pelosi pledged that the money would be made available to the Pentagon by then.

[knarf]

In a nutshell ... They can (sort of) agree on keeping illegals but can't keep our national protection?

T'row d'bums out !

[MNJohnnie]

Democrat internal polling must be looking really bad on this. They are getting frantic to make any sort of deal

[MNJohnnie]

Let see the only thing standing between you and your worse nightmate on Immigration becomeing law is the political spines of 41 Republican Senators and you want to blame them all equally?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

It's all about Power....the DemonicRats will do whatever it takes to get it back....

**************************************************************

There is a book (now available in paperback ):

***********************

Unholy Alliance: Radical Islam and the American Left
(Hardcover)
by David Horowitz

********************************************************

And reviews:

****************************************

Editorial Reviews

Rich Lowry, Editor National Review

David Horowitz is synonymous with pyrotechnics. A historian and polemicist of the first order, he is paid the ultimate compliment --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Davis Hanson, Author, Ripples of Battle

An original look at those who want us to fail in the Middle East, both at home and abroad. The --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

***********************************************************

See all Editorial Reviews

Fascinating Analysis of Leftist Goals, August 13, 2006

Reviewer: N. Sincerity - See all my reviews

A former 1960s radical, Horowitz is well-acquainted with the Leftist mindset. In this book, he strives to explain the modern alliance between left wing progressivists and radical Islamofascists. He argues that this alliance is based on a common desire to destroy Western capitalism. Leftist sympathy with Islamofascist ideas makes no sense from an intellectual point of view, given that countries ruled by radical Islamists are among the most racist, sexist, theocratic states in the world today. However, Leftists have recognized that they can benefit politically from destructive terrorist attacks on the Western world. A West under attack can be made to turn on its leaders in fear and desperation (as they did in Spain after the Madrid train bombings). Only once people reject current government structures can the Left execute its anti-capitalist revolution and build a new reality that mirrors the Leftist view of utopia.

The complete and utter idealogical hypocrisy of the Islamofascist-Leftist alliance is distressing, but as Horowitz reminds us,

Leftists radicals truly believe the ends justify the means.

***************************************

[RightWhale]

This could get bad. If funding isn’t provided, the military will have to do internal budget transfers and that means bases and training. Maybe some Dems wouldn’t mind that.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well...the DemonicRat leaders are focused on one thing....getting More power in 2008...nothing else matters much ....clearly !

[RightWhale]

DemonicRat leaders are focused on one thing

They are mindless. They don't have any idea what they are doing. They are running on inertia from the 1896 election.