President's Remarks: Iraq War Emergency Supplemental(Responds to Congress' Betrayal Live Thread)

White House ^ | March 23, 2007

[bd476]

Live now, President Bush is making a strong response.

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Updated:

Remarks by the President on the Iraq War Emergency Supplemental



REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE IRAQ WAR EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL

Diplomatic Reception Room
2:00 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Today I'm joined here at the White House by veterans, family members of people serving in combat, family members of those who have sacrificed. I am honored that they have joined me here today.

Here in Washington, members of both parties recognize that our most solemn responsibility is to support our troops in the war on terror. Yet, today, a narrow majority in the House of Representatives abdictated its responsibility by passing a war spending bill that has no chance of becoming law, and brings us no closer to getting our troops the resources they need to do their job.

The purpose of the emergency war spending bill I requested was to provide our troops with vital funding. Instead, Democrats in the House, in an act of political theater, voted to substitute their judgment for that of our military commanders on the ground in Iraq. They set rigid restrictions that will require an army of lawyers to interpret. They set an arbitrary date for withdrawal without regard for conditions on the ground. And they tacked on billions for pet projects that have nothing to do with winning the war on terror. This bill has too much pork, too many conditions and an artificial timetable for withdrawal.

As I have made clear for weeks, I will veto it if it comes to my desk. And because the vote in the House was so close, it is clear that my veto would be sustained. Today's action in the House does only one thing: it delays the delivering of vital resources for our troops. A narrow majority has decided to take this course, just as General Petraeus and his troops are carrying out a new strategy to help the Iraqis secure their capital city.

Amid the real challenges in Iraq, we're beginning to see some signs of progress. Yet, to score political points, the Democratic majority in the House has shown it is willing to undermine the gains our troops are making on the ground.

Democrats want to make clear that they oppose the war in Iraq. They have made their point. For some, that is not enough. These Democrats believe that the longer they can delay funding for our troops, the more likely they are to force me to accept restrictions on our commanders, an artificial timetable for withdrawal, and their pet spending projects. This is not going to happen. Our men and women in uniform need these emergency war funds. The Secretary of Defense has warned that if Congress does not approve the emergency funding for our troops by April the 15th, our men and women in uniform will face significant disruptions, and so would their families.

The Democrats have sent their message, now it's time to send their money. This is an important moment -- a decision for the new leaders in Congress. Our men in women in uniform should not have to worry that politicians in Washington will deny them the funds and the flexibility they need to win. Congress needs to send me a clean bill that I can sign without delay. I expect Congress to do its duty and to fund our troops, and so do the American people -- and so do the good men and women standing with me here today.

Thank you for your time.

END 2:04 P.M. EDT

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE IRAQ WAR EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL

[bygolly]

Roll Call Vote

[Jeff Chandler]

Thank President Bush by leaving a message:

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461

[HardStarboard]

I must have slept through March 17th. Seriously, tell me how the earth moved (and who moved it) and what the "GOE" is?

Evidently, I'm clueless.

[Mamba56]

"Gathering of Eagles"

[txroadkill]

"A narrow majority in the House of Representatives abdicated its responsibility by passing a war spending bill that has no chance of becoming law and brings us no closer to getting the troops the resoures they need to do their job," the president said.

Still waiting for the full transcripts to be posted

[jackv]

Oh, it's a group that marched last weekend in favor of our troops. They were at DC protecting the Vietnam memorial from being trashed by the anti-war protesters. A great Pro American group of Freepers!!

[Rocko]

Yes; thanks. Hearing him now.

[fireforeffect]

Try

http://michellemalkin.com/

http://hotair.com/

[From One - Many]

I want to hear the actual words again, I think I heard something about without a 'clean' bill by April 15, this would seriously disrupt the troops, from the President....Someone prove me wrong, please. Tell me I didn't hear this, although since this was an emergency spending bill.....I can see there may be trouble ahead without the money.....being approved.

[vietvet67]

Bravo Mr. President...!

[From One - Many]

drop it .... or are you nuts?

[bert]

Gathering of eagles has about a hundred threads. Please refer to the activism sidebar where they are detailed. There is also a bold red listing of the threads at the head of every forum page.

There were 30,000 Americans shouting down the outnumbered peace wackos at the Vietnam/Lincoln memorial.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll186.xml

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Yes you did!!

"I wish he would have said this... I wish Bush would have...blah, blah blah."
It's time to leave the Pres alone and STFU!

[gotribe]

"If you want peace, stop funding the war. If you want peace, stand for the truth," said Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio.

Rat bastard will kill our troops for his party's pork - $20 billion in all, including:

$25 million for California spinach growers

$75 million for Georgia peanut storage

$500 million for western wildfire suppression

$120 million for shrimp and Atlantic menhaden fishermen

$15 million for Louisiana rice farmers

$100 million for citrus growers

$16 million to convert the old Food and Drug Administration building in southwest D.C. into more office space

[JerseyDvl]

Wouldn't it be great if FR had a Live Thread stenographer to give us the play by play?
The closest thing I have ever seen is the wonderful Peach!

[bd476]

Fox News

March 23, 2007

Bush Vows to Veto Bill to Withdraw U.S. Troops From Iraq by Fall 2008

WASHINGTON - President Bush vowed to veto a measure pushed through the House by Democrats on Friday that would order the commander-in-chief to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq by September 2008.

"I will veto it if it comes to my desk," Bush said from the White House Diplomatic Reception Room joined by family members of veterans and troops in combat.

Bush called the measure by Democrats "an act of political theater voted to subsitute their judgement for that of our military commanders on the ground in Iraq."

Democrats won passage by a 218-212 vote on the $124 billion war spending bill, which will fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bush has promised to veto the measure.

• Click here to see how your representative voted.

“Today, this Congress faces a historic vote. A vote to truly change the direction of the Iraqi conflict,” said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., just before the vote.

Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, also called the vote "historic," urging colleagues to vote against the measure.

"Our troops are on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, doing their duty to protect freedom and to end tyranny," House Minority Leader Boehner said. "They're there watching this debate we're having in the House today and wondering, 'Will Congress do its duty? Will Congress stand up and support he mission that I'm in?' "

The vote puts Congress closer to a showdown with the White House over Bush's Iraq policy.

Bush will veto the bill, White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters at Friday's briefing.

"Look, the president's going to veto this bill, and he's going to veto it because even though it provides some funding, it also puts handcuffs on generals..."

Excerpted Bush Vows to Veto Bill to Withdraw U.S. Troops From Iraq by Fall 2008

[gotribe]

14 smart and patriotic democrats (or maybe they just didn't get any pork)

[From One - Many]

another nut?

[HamiltonJay]

While I agree with this Veto.. why is he only NOW vetoing for PORK??? This guys rubber stamped more PORK than anyone in my lifetime.