Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Senate Votes to Block Iraq War Money
AP ^ | By ANNE FLAHERTY

Posted on 11/16/2007 7:58:00 AM PST by rightinthemiddle

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Friday blocked a Republican proposal to pay $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan without strings attached.

The 53-45 vote was 15 votes short of the 60 needed to advance.

The measure was aimed at countering Democratic legislation that also would bankroll the operations, but would additionally require that troops start coming home in 30 days.

The Democratic bill, passed by the House on Wednesday, set a goal of ending combat by December 2008.

"We need to get the funds to the troops and we need to do it now," said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the only way to get troops the money was to approve the restrictions outlined by Democrats.

"Anything else is political posturing," said Reid.

Democrats also were expected to fall short of the 60 votes needed to advance their bill.

Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said this week that if Congress cannot pass legislation that ties war money to troop withdrawals, they would not send Bush a bill this year.

Instead, they would revisit the issue upon returning in January, pushing the Pentagon to the brink of an accounting nightmare and deepening Democrats' conflict with the White House on the war.

In the meantime, Democrats say, the Pentagon can eat into its $471 billion annual budget without being forced to take drastic steps.

"The days of a free lunch are over," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that unless Congress passes funding for the war within days, he will direct the Army and Marine Corps to begin developing plans to lay off employees and terminate contracts early next year.

(Excerpt) Read more at ap.google.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 100th; 110th; alqaedacrats; ap; cutandrun; cutnrun; defeatocraps; defeatocrats; democraticparty; democratparty; iraq; iraqwar; islam; islamofascism; pelosi; reid; surrendernow; traitors; whiteflagpanies
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140141-158 next last
To: Raycpa

Good question. Maybe so he could switch be on the winning side and be the one to “bring it up for reconsideration” later.

Or maybe because he thinks being the one Democratic presidential candidate that voted to fund the war might be a good thing in January primaries if by December the troops are coming home victorious and he can note that some of the 50 billion is being used to transport them.


121 posted on 11/16/2007 12:51:09 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 116 | View Replies]

To: All

The rhetoric from the GOP could use a bit of refinement. Perhaps something like this:

The young men and women fighting the enemy in Iraq deserve victory. We should not rob them of it and condemn them to a lifetime of knowledge that they lost a war when they are on the very cusp of triumph. They are among the most deserving of our country’s young people. Do not deny them the victory that they have earned and deserve. Please, we beg you, do not do this horrible thing to these brave Americans. Grant them the funding they need for victory!


122 posted on 11/16/2007 12:54:51 PM PST by Owen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 120 | View Replies]

To: TNCMAXQ

Oh, c’mon...SURELY it was more important to defeat a conservative who wasn’t conservative ENOUGH than to elect a liberal.......

Afterall, we had to teach the party a lesson, didn’t we?

Do I really need to type sarcasm off?


123 posted on 11/16/2007 1:17:52 PM PST by wpa_mikeb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 109 | View Replies]

To: rightinthemiddle

Dems’ attempt to starve our troops to death.


124 posted on 11/16/2007 1:25:58 PM PST by Wiz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rightinthemiddle
"Gates should start laying off the civilian/Democrat/Bureaucrat “dead weight” employees in the DOD."

Yes, immediately before Christmas.

125 posted on 11/16/2007 1:28:03 PM PST by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Raycpa

I don’t know.


126 posted on 11/16/2007 1:29:24 PM PST by Anti-Bubba182
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 115 | View Replies]

To: Owen

I like how you think!!!


127 posted on 11/16/2007 1:32:33 PM PST by Steelerfan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 122 | View Replies]

To: rightinthemiddle
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the only way to get troops the money was to approve the restrictions outlined by Democrats.

Harry doesn't care if it's unconstitutional, trying to order the POTUS to withdraw troops. You don't have the courage to de-fund the war, do ya harry? What a COWARD and a FRAUD!

"Anything else is political posturing," said Reid.

As usual, dingy harry tells everyone what the dems are doing.

128 posted on 11/16/2007 1:40:30 PM PST by Edgerunner (If you won't let the military fight your battles, you will have to. Keep your powder dry...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pnh102
And there was much cheering by the enemy.

You are so right, and it brings tears to my eyes when I think that everyone knew that the enemy would cheer this result and yet they voted this way anyway.

But I'm a big believer in the pendulum theory. It swung against the pubbies in 2006, but I think it's clear that for 2008 it is poised to swing back and decapitate the democratic majority in congress.

If not, many more tears will be shed.

129 posted on 11/16/2007 2:13:52 PM PST by EarlyBird (kto zabotitcya ob etom?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: rightinthemiddle

Start by cutting all Congressional Airforce Charters ala Nancy and crew...


130 posted on 11/16/2007 2:23:27 PM PST by tomnbeverly (The sour sounds of liberal whining is sure to scare away any chance of success.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rightinthemiddle
Perhaps this is the Democrat version? But, the article says the Republican version failed by the same vote.

yes--i am confused... on the radio i heard that the Democrats failed by 15 votes... failed to put a timetable on the war...

131 posted on 11/16/2007 2:31:20 PM PST by latina4dubya
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Owen

Lordy, excuse me but that sounds like such a wussy, pussy way of saying something like this: “Unless you want my fist rammed down your throat and your gonads cut off, restore funding NOW you POS! I kid you not.”

With my son serving his second combat tour in Iraq, 9 yrs service in all, do you think for one second that I’m not going to get a piece of a politician? It’s time to put away that namby-pamby way of talk, get down and get with it.

This is deadly serious business.


132 posted on 11/16/2007 2:57:56 PM PST by brushcop (B-Co. 2/69 3rd Infantry Div., "Sledgehammer!" ...and keep hammering 'em!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 122 | View Replies]

To: EarlyBird
I would like to see President Bush state something along the lines of...

I am hereby suspending all welfare payments and using these funds to pay for our operations in the War on Terror. The Democrat party can either pay for our troops or impeach me. I don't care!

I think it would be brilliant politically. The welfare bum crowd doesn't vote GOP anyway, so it isn't like we'd have anything to lose.

133 posted on 11/16/2007 3:22:04 PM PST by pnh102
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 129 | View Replies]

To: rightinthemiddle

do you have the death penalty for treason in the USA?


134 posted on 11/16/2007 4:09:49 PM PST by rogernz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IrishMike

Ww3=”LUNCH” to defeatocraps! Remember in 08


135 posted on 11/16/2007 4:37:20 PM PST by omega4179 ("Bring me the broomstick of the wicked witch of the west")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: pnh102

Actually most welfare recipients in the US are single white mothers.


136 posted on 11/16/2007 5:01:41 PM PST by Owen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 133 | View Replies]

To: rightinthemiddle
""The days of a free lunch are over," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y."

Free lunches for every other issue (none of which are the primary purpose of a government) but no money for national defense.

137 posted on 11/16/2007 5:22:46 PM PST by mbennett203 ("Bulrog, a tough brute ninja who has dedicated his life to eradicating the world from hippies.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rightinthemiddle
"The days of a free lunch are over," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Not true, Chuck the Schmuck has been on the free lunch wagon since he first took his seat. And he won't be off it anytime soon.

He is a heavy tipper , just like Hill the Schill.

138 posted on 11/16/2007 7:10:16 PM PST by Candor7 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Baghdad_(1258))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CharlesWayneCT
snowe, collins, smith, hagel.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Village idiots every one. They all should be given free tickets to Iraq, and made to eat the chow for the next year on a special congressional assignment. Then they can see what its like to eat C Rats when the funding is cut.

Ham and Lima beans only.

They would be known then as the 4 tooters, which is slightly more upbeat than what they are known as now.

I have no use for these RINOs.

Neither will their constituants in the next election.

139 posted on 11/16/2007 7:16:35 PM PST by Candor7 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Baghdad_(1258))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: blam
Yes, immediately before Christmas.

dingey is already whining 'Bush's fault' about the required notification already being sent to the union thugs that their gonna be laid off...heheheh...Gates didnt waste time shovelin this s**t right at the base...

140 posted on 11/16/2007 10:20:11 PM PST by Gilbo_3 (A few Rams must look after the sheep 'til the Good Shepherd returns...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 125 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140141-158 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson