Like this idiot?
Posted on 05/10/2007 9:44:00 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
WASHINGTON (AP) -
0509dv-iraq-spending 0509dvs-cheney-baghdad The White House acknowledged public frustration with the Iraq war but tried to play down Republican anxieties Thursday as the House prepared to pass legislation that could cut off funding for U.S. troops as early as July.
The bill is hotly contested by the White House, opposed by nearly all Republicans and unlikely to survive in the Senate. But House Democratic leaders say the measure shows they refuse to back down in challenging President Bush on a deeply unpopular and costly war.
"The president refuses to listen to the American people who want this war to end," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
The White House confirmed that Bush held an unannounced meeting this week with House Republican moderates who expressed deepening concerns about the war. Several participants described a remarkably blunt discussion in which lawmakers told the president the war was unsustainable without public support, and was having a corrosive effect on GOP political fortunes.
Presidential spokesman Tony Snow refused to discuss details of the meeting but said, "Of course there are frustrations."
"It is striking to me ... that people are shocked that the president is hearing candid advice from people who have concerns.
"And I'm telling you that where the rubber meets the road, right now here in Washington, Republicans are united, Democrats are divided. Period." Snow said, "If you want disunity, there's far more disunity on the Democratic side."
Thursday's vote in the House comes as Iraqi lawmakers endorsed a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops and demanded a freeze on the number already in the country. Drafted by the parliamentary bloc loyal to anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, the proposal was signed by 144 members of the 275-member house, said Nassar al-Rubaie, the leader of the Sadrist bloc.
The House bill would provide the military with $42.8 billion to keep operations going through July, buy equipment and train Iraqi and Afghan security forces. Congress would decide shortly before its August recess whether to release an additional $52.8 billion for war spending through September.
A dozen or so members in Congress are attempting to strike a bipartisan compromise on the war. Few have come forward with concrete plans - perhaps out of reluctance to champion a proposal until they know it can succeed. None of the proposals put in plain view have picked up steam.
"We'll see what happens," said Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Ala. "A lot of us are coming together across the aisle. We're under the radar now, but we're meeting."
Many Republicans have grown nervous on the war.
Three Republicans - Reps. Frank Wolf of Virginia, Michael McCaul of Texas and Mark Udall of Colorado - circulated a letter Wednesday urging their colleagues to co-sponsor legislation that would put in place recommendations from the independent Iraq Study Group.
One of the 79 suggestions from the bipartisan group in December was reducing U.S. "political, military or economic support" for Iraq if the Baghdad government could not make substantial progress toward providing for the country's security. The report suggested an urgent diplomatic attempt to stabilize Iraq and allow the withdrawal of most U.S. combat troops by early 2008.
"When the country is together, we are strong and can respond to our problems effectively," the three House Republicans wrote. "The more we are divided, the harder this becomes."
Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia was one of 11 GOP lawmakers who met with Bush and his top aides Tuesday afternoon.
"We asked them what's Plan B," Davis said. "We let them know that the status quo is not acceptable." Davis said the president responded that if he began discussing a new strategy, his current one never would have a chance to succeed.
Several GOP senators sought to find their own solution.
Last week, Sen. John Warner, R-Va., raised hopes when he said he had an idea that had enough support to override a veto. Warner said his proposal would pressure the Iraqi government to take more initiative on political and security reforms. He declined to offer more specifics.
On Wednesday, Warner said he was reassessing in light of the new House proposal.
Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and John Sununu, R-N.H., said they are open to considering conditions on foreign aid to Iraq if the Baghdad government fails to meet certain benchmarks.
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said he agrees that withholding reconstruction money is a good idea. But he thinks the president should be the one to do it based on a White House review of progress reports.
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Just snatched this bit of great news off Memeorandum:
It’s time to replace some conservative Democrats in Washington, DC. I just heard from an impeccable source that there is serious concern on the Hill that conservative Democrats in the House will vote with the Republicans to strip any and all restrictions from the Iraq supplemental tomorrow, effectively giving Bush all the money he wants with no restrictions and no effort to hold either him or the Iraq government accountable for anything. I.e., they will vote to continue this war along the same disastrous course because they’re too afraid to challenge George Bush and his failed leadership.
Let me reiterate: This isn’t some idle rumor. The concerns are coming from Hill sources themselves.
Why do you think moderate/conservative Dems are shifting abruptly? As I have been posting for a month now, watch Diyala Province.
Americans want the job done, not a cut and run, Nancy..
fyi
President Bush holding his ground...
Plan B is we lose Iraq, and eventually see much worse here at home than we did on 9/11.
No thanks. I’d rather the fight be in the Middle East then here in the Mid West.
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Tribal leaders in the troubled province organize against al Qaeda
In March, we noted the successful model of the Anbar Salvation Council will very likely be replicated elsewhere in regions where al Qaeda has established bases of operation. We singled out Diyala in particular, as al Qaeda's campaign of murder and intimidation was beginning to anger the tribes much as it did in Anbar province. Al Qaeda's establishment of its Islamic State of Iraq, with its capital in Baqubah made the province ripe for a major Coalition operation in the region. In early March, Al Sabaah reported the local sheikhs in Diyala were organizing against al-Qaeda and its Islamic State of Iraq, "which [is] spreading corruption in the province districts." Today, the speculation has become a reality, as "Arab tribesmen in Baqubah have said they will form a tribal alliance to cleanse the Diyala province of foreign fighters and those of the al-Qaeda terrorist network in Iraq."
"Tribesman Sheikh Wameed al-Jabouri told al-Hayat that a number of tribes had signed a cooperation agreement to undertake this mission and to bring the city back to how 'it used to be,'" notes DPA. "The agreement could be considered "a national charter" that proves their rejection of the actions of the terrorist groups, al-Jabouri said."
Pass, veto, fail to override. Pass, veto, fail to override.
How long can this go on, before something is seriously impacted?
In this, the Democraticans have the overwhelming obligation to do the right thing. They should just go ahead and offer an immediate withdrawal bill, which seems to be their objective anyway. Get it on the floor and up to a vote.
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.’
Kennedy, 1961
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, and we don’t really blame you for despising us, it keeps us up at night, that we shall pay any price, within reason, support any friend, at least until the going gets tough, oppose any foe, for a while and if a Democrat is in the Oval Office, to assure the survival of and the success of the Democratic Party.”
Pelosi/Reid, 2007
I’m with you...no Burkha’s for my beautiful grand daughters....
hey badeye, you quit hanging out at LP, good to see ya
LOL....Exceleent!
‘hey badeye, you quit hanging out at LP, good to see ya’
Yep. Too much kook 9/11 theory, not enough politics there these days.
Well, well, well. Looks like we might see the first fruits from some of the rats who won in GOP districts while running as 'conservatives'.
yer telling me, the kook factor and the bashing of the administration at ANY costs is getting to be a downer. but then there are no bannings.
My congresscritter is one of those BlueDogDems, AKA “Conservative Dem” is there is such an animal.
I fired off a letter last week to The Modesto Bee regarding our Blue Dog Dem. I stated that it appears our Blue Dog has become nothing more than Nancy’s lap dog.
It was published this morning.
The host refused to moderate, it got ugly, posters were banned.
Now, its kooks 24/7, and ‘think progress’ is a source for ‘breaking news’....(eyes rolling)
No loss.
House Democratic leaders say the measure shows they refuse to back down in challenging President Bush on a deeply unpopular and costly war. "The president refuses to listen to the American people who want this war to end," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif... Thursday's vote in the House comes as Iraqi lawmakers endorsed a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops and demanded a freeze on the number already in the country. Drafted by the parliamentary bloc loyal to anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, the proposal was signed by 144 members of the 275-member house, said Nassar al-Rubaie, the leader of the Sadrist bloc.The President instead listens to the majority of the American people who don't want a timetable and see plain as day that the Dhimmicrats are voting in line with the government of Iran's proxy stooges in Iraq.
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