Posted on 05/21/2008 8:07:42 PM PDT by SmithL
In a move likely to doom billions of dollars that Democrats had sought for domestic programs, Senate leaders agreed Wednesday night to focus a funding bill on Pentagon operations in Iraq and Afghanistan but allow a vote on a huge expansion of veterans' education benefits.
The Senate was slated to vote Thursday to provide $165 billion for the wars, funding those operations until the new administration takes over next year. GOP leaders were expected to try to block the amendment aimed at the GI Bill — authored by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va. — to send a "clean" war funding bill back to the House. Democrats expressed cautious confidence that they would win the 60 votes needed to adopt it.
The plan announced Wednesday night by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., would probably scuttle efforts to provide 13 more weeks of unemployment benefits as well as money for heating subsidies, fighting Western wildfires and aid to rural schools. Such spending had been backed by senators in both parties but had drawn a veto promise from President Bush.
The White House also promised to veto the additional veterans education benefits, arguing that they would hurt efforts to re-enlist troops finishing their stints in the service.
To gain almost $28 billion in non-defense spending, Democrats would need to win over a dozen or more Republicans — a difficult task at best.
The deal reached between Reid and his GOP counterpart, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, would also provide for passage of Bush's funding request without restrictions on his conduct of the Iraq war.
The deal, if passed on Thursday, would send the war funding bill to the House in hopes it would soon reach Bush's desk.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Holy... $165 Billion, huh?
How much of this will be repaid by Iraq or Afghanistan? That’s right. Zilch. *sigh*.
On the plus side, $165 Billion is only worth what? $3,000 in 2001 dollars? I guess that’s not so bad :)
Funny if it weren't so sad. Where's that turd Wolfowitz now? Or that big mouthed jackass Rumsfeld? Bastards.
Looks like my tagline answers yours.
As usual, the GOP is sound asleep.
Teachers and their unions are a critical source of finance and votes for the Democratic Party.
How much of that $52 billion in tax money will the teachers kick right back to the Dems in donations and bought votes?
The correct counter punch for the GOP?
Free market capitalism.
Offer our vets $52 billion in cash bonuses, to be spent any way they like, including education, if that's what the vets choose.
The GOP is not just weak, it is criminally incompetent.
We are totally F****D.
Nah, you’re probably the sort of guy that if Clinton made it on the Republican ticket, would probably vote for her because otherwise, we’d be supporting a liberal.
If you want to reward the RNC for shoving RINOs like McCain down our throat, so be it. Instead of 4 years of hell, I hope you enjoy the next 32.
I'm the sort of person that, when presented with two options, is able to choose one, even if it's not pleasant.
If you want to reward the RNC for shoving RINOs like McCain down our throat, so be it. Instead of 4 years of hell, I hope you enjoy the next 32.
I hope I live another 32 years. As for the rest, rewarding the RNC has nothing to do with it. As a voter, I'm presented with two choices. I'm going to pick one. The primary is over. McCain won.
And that's the other point. No one shoved anyone down anyone's throat. We had these thingies called primaries. The conservative vote was split between the Massachusetts nancy boy, the Arkansas bible thumping nanny stater, the tired actor without a script (or a pulse), the cross-dressing liberal from New York, and the lunatic congressman from Texas. Hence, we get McCain.
I may not like it, but that's usually how it goes. I've never in my life seen the guy I voted for in the primary win the nod. This year is no different. I'm just amazed how satisfied you all must have been up to now. This is the first time you've had to hold your nose? That musta been some preeeeety tasty kool aid.
Back here in the real world, I'll make what is a clear, obvious choice, and move on.
It is the last time I’m going to hold my nose. I’ve voted for Bush twice. Moving the party further leftward is something I’m not interested in.
Have fun with Mr. Amnesty, Mr. Global Warming, and a Republican Minority in Congress that will not oppose him. The consequences of electing a member of the conservative party that is liberal to the Presidency is disastrous as it sucks ANY opposition to their liberal ideas out of Congress.
I’d rather have Republicans bitterly fighting Obama tooth and nail, rather than rubber stamping McCain.
I am living with a RINO governor in CA. He’s worse than his Democrat predecessor as the Republicans in Congress are voting for things that they would have fought bitterly if the Governor simply had a (D) after his name.
I live in the Real World, but I see it differently than you do.
I've heard that argument. I believe that giving Obama two, possibly three SCOTUS picks negates by far any short term political gains that come from having a MINORITY GOP opposition party in Congress, especially at a time when they are at serious low ebb in Congress. Even if they were a majority, the SCOTUS picks would negate any gains.
With McCain, there is a shot at decent SCOTUS picks. I'm not saying it's a lock, but it's a reasonable chance. With Obama, it's reasonable to expect the absolute worst.
Further, with troops still in harms way, I don't think it's a good time to hand over the reins just to position the GOP as an opposition party. I think it's irresponsible, and it won't even work.
We just disagree, and neither of us are going to convince the other otherwise :)
I hope that some day you can prove me wrong on this. Either way, it’s clear that there are some dark days ahead for the Republic regardless of whether McCain or Obama win.
All the best!
I see the merits to what both of you are saying.
This election is by far the worst in my lifetime for conservative choices. Nothing is good; all decisions can only be based on which will mitigate the most damage.
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