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

[colorado tanker]

The President has been good on the GWOT, but is also a President who has vetoed one bill in six years, so I stand by my comment.

[processing please hold]

Not over our open borders he's not.

[carton253]

Now, I see. You want us to the world's policemen. Wow, that is such a refreshing change of pace from the posts I usually see here on Free Republic.

PS - You only sarcasm to advance an argument if it is not strong enough to stand on its own.

[WaterWheeler]

It is hard to believe that sane people cannot see through Nancy Pilosi. She has no regard for this country and is interested ONLY in power, power, and more power.

I worry that the Bush haters and the USA haters are dividing the country while all of our enemies are cheering.

Osama loves Nancy!

[penelopesire]

Freeper Keeper!! LOL

[jveritas]

If liberals are that politically smart why did they lose 7 of the last 10 Presidential elections and why did they lose Congress from 1994-2006? Why do you people always forget the most important and simplest facts like the ones I showed above? How do you engage in a debate and not realize that your argument will be destroyed in milliseconds?

It is important not to underestimate your opponents but it is extremely stupid and unproductive to over rate them, give them a sense of invincibility when the facts and reality show the opposite. Enough knee jerking on our side.

You idiots talk about “sheeple” being brain washed by the liberal media, but it is you morons who are enslaved and brain washed by the liberal media. Your elitist, defeatist, and knee jerking attitude is disgusting.

[LYSandra]

YES! Finally! I emailed the Whitehouse with my support and cudos. Stand behind our great President! Stick it to em GWB!

[carton253]

You can stand by it all you want. It simply is not true. He has shown real courage in the governing of this nation. You, on the other hand, have just posted words on a internet forum. See the difference?

[Christian4Bush]

Truer words were never spoken. And the DBM will parrot the dems action. I doubt this bill will pass in the Senate however.

Probably not. The House doesn't have anything like the cloture vote that the Senate has. However, if it doesn't have 2/3 vote to override the veto, maybe they should let the vote through. It's up to the minority whip to figure that out, but what would happen if cloture was invoked, it went to a vote, and could not even gain a simple majority? If it went down, Reid would have to vote against it, in order to be able to bring it up again later. We'll see. Good on the President for laying the hammer down.

[USMCWife6869]

Delahunt. We are still Massachusetts residents, unfortunately.

[From One - Many]

I authorize the President to post a sign on the South Lawn too!

Day 01, Troops Held Hostage by Democrats

That is a really great idea.....

[jveritas]

The President can pull funds from other parts of the general budget to fund the troops, and he will do if he has to.

[Lucky9teen]

[pollyannaish]

It will be interesting to see if you are right. Since the media has been emphasizing the pork angle for days and the clumsiness of the way Pelosi and Friends have been dishing it out, it will be interesting to see if the tide turns onto members of congress or him.


I believe that this is an all new ballgame and we are reseting the goal posts. But I am open to being wrong.

BTW, I think your type of analytical criticism of the president is the right kind. Nice to see.

[smoothsailing]

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.

Read the President's words again. He mentions pork, last, almost as an afterthought. You're overdramatizing your point about it. Why?

[jveritas]

Except that he will go on National TV in prime speech address and expose the democrats for the whole nation to see. It is too hard for the traitors and their media to spin this as you think, they are not going to succeed.

[Mo1]

The President won't do that ... for many reasons


Though others can

GREAT IDEA!

[From One - Many]

then why did he state a date of April 15 or such and such would happen....?

[gpapa]

Here is what is in the bill (H.R.1591)http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.1591
It includes the following sub-titles:
TITLE II--ADDITIONAL HURRICANE DISASTER
RELIEF AND RECOVERY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Exploration Capabilities
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE--CIVIL
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Corps of Engineers--Civil
FLOOD CONTROL AND COASTAL EMERGENCIES
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Disaster Loans Program Account
Federal Emergency Management Agency
DISASTER RELIEF
SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Innovation and Improvement
Hurricane Education Recovery
PROGRAMS TO RESTART SCHOOL OPERATIONS
Higher Education
GENERAL PROVISION--THIS CHAPTER
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Public and Indian Housing
TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE
Office of Inspector General
TITLE III--AGRICULTURAL ASSISTANCE

SEC. 3101. CROP DISASTER ASSISTANCE.
SEC. 3102. LIVESTOCK ASSISTANCE.
SEC. 3103. SPINACH.
SEC. 3104. EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM.
SEC. 3105. PAYMENT LIMITATIONS.
SEC. 3106. ADMINISTRATION.
SEC. 3107. MILK INCOME LOSS CONTRACT PROGRAM.
SEC. 3108. PEANUT STORAGE COSTS.
SEC. 3109. LOSSES DUE TO APHIS EMERGENCY ORDER.
SEC. 3110. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION.
TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS
Farm Service Agency
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
General Provisions
(RESCISSION)
CHAPTER 5
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
National Park Service
OPERATION OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM
U.S. Geological Survey
SURVEYS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND RESEARCH
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 6
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
(TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Administration for Children and Families
LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE
Office of the Secretary
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES EMERGENCY FUND
COVERED COUNTERMEASURE PROCESS FUND
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
CHAPTER 7
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
PAYMENT TO WIDOWS AND HEIRS OF DECEASED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL
CAPITOL POWER PLANT
CHAPTER 8
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
International Commissions
INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION, UNITED STATES AND MEXICO
CONSTRUCTION
GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS CHAPTER
CHAPTER 9
GENERAL PROVISION--THIS ACT
TITLE V--CONTRACTING REFORM

SEC. 5001. MINIMIZING SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACTS.
SEC. 5002. MINIMIZING COST-REIMBURSEMENT TYPE CONTRACTS.
SEC. 5003. PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL DOCUMENTS FOR NONCOMPETITIVE CONTRACTS.
SEC. 5004. DISCLOSURE OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR OVERCHARGES.
TITLE VI--ELIMINATION OF SCHIP SHORTFALL
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services State Children's Health Insurance Fund

SEC. 6001. ELIMINATION OF REMAINDER OF SCHIP FUNDING SHORTFALLS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007.
TITLE VII--MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE AND SMALL BUSINESS TAX RELIEF
CHAPTER 1

SEC. 7101. SHORT TITLE.
SEC. 7102. MINIMUM WAGE.
SEC. 7103. APPLICABILITY OF MINIMUM WAGE TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS.
SEC. 7104. APPLICABILITY OF MINIMUM WAGE TO AMERICAN SAMOA.
CHAPTER 2

Sec. 7201. Short title; amendment of 1986 Code; table of contents.
SEC. 7202. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF WORK OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDIT.
SEC. 7203. EXTENSION AND INCREASE OF EXPENSING FOR SMALL BUSINESS.
SEC. 7204. DETERMINATION OF CREDIT FOR CERTAIN TAXES PAID WITH RESPECT TO EMPLOYEE CASH TIPS.
SEC. 7206. FAMILY BUSINESS TAX SIMPLIFICATION.
SEC. 7207. DENIAL OF LOWEST CAPITAL GAINS RATE FOR CERTAIN DEPENDENTS.
SEC. 7208. SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN PENALTIES AND INTEREST.
SEC. 7209. TIME FOR PAYMENT OF CORPORATE ESTIMATED TAXES.

[top 2 toe red]

Bless you & your husband, I thank you both so much for what y'all are doing for our country...and I hate that stupid democrats can cause you more and totally unnecessary worry, they are beyond reprehensible.

Again, thank y'all, thank y'all and tell your husband he is loved and appreciated, greatly!