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President's Remarks: Iraq War Emergency Supplemental(Responds to Congress' Betrayal Live Thread)
White House ^
| March 23, 2007
Posted on 03/23/2007 11:04:16 AM PDT by bd476
Edited on 03/23/2007 12:04:27 PM PDT by Admin Moderator.
[history]
Live now, President Bush is making a strong response.
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
TOPICS: Breaking News
KEYWORDS: congressmorons; enemywithin; ratsarelosers; traitors; veto
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To: furquhart
Please, be serious. Bush has rubber stamped more pork than any president in history.... for him to finally find a veto stamp for PORK on this bill will just wind up being used against him. He had pleanty of reason to veto it, to even bring the word PORK into this veto will just end up setting up another round of attacks on him.
Just stand up and say "I VETOED it because I will not sign any legislation that attempts to set a time table in an ongoing war, period."
To: HamiltonJay
Taking a shot at GW when Pelosi and CO, pass a nutjob bill that will only strenghten our enemies to kill us and more of our troops is nuts. Did I miss where you mentioned ANYTHING ABOUT PELOSI in your post?
102
posted on
03/23/2007 11:48:21 AM PDT
by
jrooney
(The democrats are the friend of our enemy and the enemy of our friends. Attack them, not GW!)
To: bd476
Why is there no time line for Troop removal in Bosnia? Security is no longer needed in Bosnia but security is still needed in Iraq.
No time line is needed. We will leave when the Iraqi people can secure them self.
It would be immoral to do otherwise.
Peloser is pandering to the Commie left who are crying for defeat and Troop removal. These are traitors to the mission if Free Iraq. And if they don't like being called a traitor, they should not give me a reason to do so.
These people were marching on March 17th in Washington DC. These same people are calling for defeat and/or Troop removal in Iraq:
103
posted on
03/23/2007 11:48:22 AM PDT
by
do the dhue
(DEM ARE RATS!!!!!)
To: USMCWife6869
This is serious and the demonrats are about to truly hurt America, our military, and our military families, if this move by the demonrats isn't reversed.
104
posted on
03/23/2007 11:48:46 AM PDT
by
From One - Many
(Trust the Old Media At Your Own Risk)
To: You Dirty Rats
To: agincourt1415
Dems think they've "won" something. They haven't. Bush lays a smackdown on them. We'll see how this plays out. I think the Dems are trying to do too much. They ladled a bill with pork to get both the liberal kook fringe and the moderate conservatives who were just elected. Republicans should have not problem portraying this for what it is - Politics when troops are in harm's way.
THIS is when the President is at his best.
106
posted on
03/23/2007 11:49:10 AM PDT
by
teddyballgame
(red man in a blue state)
To: From One - Many
demonrats are about to truly hurt America
I hope the 'middle' Americans will wake up to this fact by 2008.
107
posted on
03/23/2007 11:50:51 AM PDT
by
do the dhue
(DEM ARE RATS!!!!!)
To: do the dhue
it may be too late, I heard and read a date of April 15
108
posted on
03/23/2007 11:51:45 AM PDT
by
From One - Many
(Trust the Old Media At Your Own Risk)
To: teddyballgame
Here is the Dems' strategy.
Marine Mom and Rep. Obey. We Share your frustrationWe're trying to use the supplemental to end the war," said Obey, chairman of the Appropriations Committee and sponsor of the legislation that would end any combat role for U.S. troops by Aug. 31, 2008. "You can't end the war if you're going against the supplemental. It's time these idiot liberals understood that!"
"As another protester joined Richards, Obey continued: "That bill ends the war! If that isn't good enough for you, you're smoking something illegal. You've got your facts screwed up. We can't get the votes! Do you see a magic wand in my pocket? We don't have the votes for it. We do have the votes if you guys quit screwing it up. We do have the votes to end the legal authority for the war, that's the same as de-funding it."
I believe that they will not provide a clean bill by April 15. We are going to have some sort of showdown with the WH providing some concessions in order to get the funding.
109
posted on
03/23/2007 11:52:27 AM PDT
by
kabar
To: pollyannaish
AlGore once botched our e pluribus unum motto by saying it meant "out of one, many."
110
posted on
03/23/2007 11:52:33 AM PDT
by
karnage
To: Bernard Marx
Liberals may be noxious, hateful, anti-American and despicable in every way, but they are never politically stupid.I agree with your premise completely, but the outcome is radically different than your view. The RATS will ultimately send the President a clean supplemental with no timetables, because they face political suicide if they don't. He can veto and veto and veto until they send him an acceptable bill. These freshmen RATS know that Pelosi cannot protect them next November -- they'll bolt in a New York minute, and there is a good possibility that Nancy will lose control of the House altogether.
The President of the United States can tell the American people that the blood of American soldiers is on the hands of Democratic leaders in the House and Senate who want to micromanage this war, defund this war, and load the emergency funding with pork.
The White House is holding all the cards on this and both the RATS and the MSM know it. There is no need for the President to compromise on this in any fashion.
111
posted on
03/23/2007 11:53:10 AM PDT
by
mwl1
To: teddyballgame; All
I hereby authorize every Freeper to count the days our troops are held hostage by the Democrats, use it in your tag lines and postings.
Maybe Fox News and Sean H. will use it too.
Take no moonbat prisoners!
112
posted on
03/23/2007 11:53:53 AM PDT
by
agincourt1415
(Demcrats hold Troops Hostage DAY ONE!)
To: bd476
if he vetoes it, they will say that it was none other than GWB who denied funds for the troops.
113
posted on
03/23/2007 11:54:25 AM PDT
by
sappy
To: jrooney
You need to take your bush bot blinders off and actually read what I have stated on this. Dems had to bribe out the wazoo to get this bill to pass, because the Blue Dogs don't like it and know they will pay a political price in their home states for voting for it.
Bush vetoed it, good, as he should, but he didn't have to even mention the word "pork" in order to do so... by doing so he just opens up criticism on his record on this topic, instead of just sticking to the war.
Sorry, thats my assessment, if you think that makes me a liberal, then you definately need some help. If you think honest criticism of your side is not allowed, then I think you have far more in common with the liberal side of the isle than you realize.
Bill was a horrible bill, and it should and was vetoed... Bush even bring the word "pork" into the justification for his veto was a bad political move.... Vetoing it because it would harm our troops and efforts is more than enough reason.
To: karnage
Hmm. When?
To: HamiltonJay
Well, when you are President, you can not say the word pork.
116
posted on
03/23/2007 11:56:31 AM PDT
by
carton253
(Not enough space to express how I truly feel.)
To: HamiltonJay
You need to clean your GW is EEEEVVVIIIIILLLLL glasses and attack the real source of the madness. If your dog bites you, you do not kick the cat, unless you are a dumbass.
117
posted on
03/23/2007 11:56:50 AM PDT
by
jrooney
(The democrats are the friend of our enemy and the enemy of our friends. Attack them, not GW!)
To: sappy
Truer words were never spoken. And the DBM will parrot the dems action. I doubt this bill will pass in the Senate however.
118
posted on
03/23/2007 11:57:29 AM PDT
by
gpapa
(Boost FR Traffic! Make FR your home page!)
To: sappy
if he vetoes it, they will say that it was none other than GWB who denied funds for the troops.Let them try this line of reasoning with the American people. The American people may be upset with Bush over Iraq, but no plausible person will believe that he wants to defund the troops. The President of the United States owns the bully pulpit on this issue.
119
posted on
03/23/2007 11:57:32 AM PDT
by
mwl1
To: bd476
This may be a silly question, but just exactly who are the Democrats "scoring political points" with? Their base?
Good for Bush. He needs to really stick it to the Democrats and all those that oppose fighting this WOT the RIGHT way. May God bless that man and give him the strength he needs to fight the battle.
120
posted on
03/23/2007 11:57:34 AM PDT
by
Lucky9teen
(I used 2 think people were factually ignorant but talking 2 liberals I realize people R just stupid.)
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