Bush vs Marine: Peanuts and war

C'mon Dubya. If Ted Stevens can get his bridge to nowhere why can't peanut farmers get some help?

All BS aside, I'd like to see "clean" bills come out of Congress. A bill on military spending ought to be just exactly that.

Lose the earmarks.

Why how disingenuous of the president. Thats not the issue and he knows it. It's the timeline he doesn't like. Unfortunately pork has been a favorite of both parties for as long as I can remember. Call a spade a spade Mr. president and stop avoiding the real issue.

If you want to talk about a waste of money lets look at this disaster of a war. It has done absolutely nothing for us and it has only made Iran stronger. There was absolutely no forsight to the possible ramifications of this action. It was a blunder of epic proportion and you and you alone hold that responsibility.

Every budget that Bush and Republicans passed was larded with so much pork that it put our children, grand childrent and great grandchildren into a hole that they may never get out of.

He has not right to talk about fiscal discipline. He's the worst spender in the history of the Oval Office.

At no point does Bush acknowledge his personal failure in his role as Commander In Chief. His weak leadership has resulted in four years of this terrible defeat and thousands of dead and wounded. Three or four years ago a "surge" might have made a difference. Bush however, remained unchanged in following failed tactics and did nothing to ensure success. These four years have been accepted by Bush. These four years and all those deaths have been accepted by our senior officers. They both want more of the same. Congress must save the Country from them.

I just had a peanut butter sandwich and it goes great with milk. It's much better than war.

I vote "peanuts."

But more to my point of the day, why does every report these days have to include the phrase "speaking on the condition of anonymity." Why not just write "a top government official" and leave it at that? We know the source wants to be anonymous, just like us Swampies. It's easier to throw "dirt" when no one knows who's actually throwing it.

Another $100,000,000,000 into the furnace.

Wow, the trifecta continues to pay off!

Agree, DZ, we do need clean bills.

DZ, CM, Agreed. Lose the pork.

It is fortunate that we don't have any bombing within our country like the daily events that is happening in the Middle East and Israel. I am very thankful of that.

Just you wait till one day the same bombing thing happens in this country. All of the negative things that is said of President Bush and the Republican party will be gone. The Democrats will of course change their talk, but then, it will be too late.

I hope that day will never come, but until then, the trash talk continues against Bush.

Wow. Peanuts or War? I says Peanuts ya'll Peanuts won't kill ya. Peanuts don't cost as much and Peanuts won't lie about it's mission or intentions. Pork for Peace ; Peanuts for Peace!!

Do you think Bush would have vetoed that bill if it had included making his tax cuts permanent?

Same old drivel on both sides.

Iraqi's have fought with eachother for 2000 years. This isn't Bush's fault, or the democrats.

Stand, back, drop big bombs and let a few of them rain over the border into Iran remarkably close to where they might be doing nuclear research.

Then say "get along". If they don't, try some more bombs.

The only negotiation this group of people have *ever* understood has been force. It's why they use it on each other.

Does he even know that the Senate consists of Republicans as well as Democrats..He needs to be Impeached!

Talking about 'clean bills' with regard to this legislation is in the realm of complaining that the ink they're printed with isn't eco-friendly.

typical democrats. they want to first fund stupid things that don't need to be at this point in time. They are once again stripping from the troops as they did in Vietnam. Then they talk about reducing the debt but taxing the people after the people are finally getting back on track after 9/11 and other times. the sending of stuff overseas. thanks democrats you will get my votes in the future I THINK NOT

It is so comical to hear the repubs whining about "pork". Were the past 6 years not the porkiest in U.S. history? How many bills did Bush sign in to law that had egregious amounts of pork in them? The bridge to nowhere is one good example. Though I am disappointed somewhat with the dems performance thus far, I have to laugh at all the whining that is going on from the other side of the isle. Now they know what its like to have the shoe on the perverbial other foot. Quit whining and do the peoples work.

The President is living in some sort of dream land. Just a couple of days ago he quoted a supposed blog from Iraq that said in every way things are getting better.

That same day 50 people were killed in a market when they were offered free flour. That same night 60 iraqui men were killed in retaliation.

Because of incompetence by this administration we have already lost the war in Iraq--every life lost, every body maimed, every dollar spent will not stay the inevitable collapse of our efforts there.

The president is a bad one, he knows it, we know it. AND he had teh nerve at one point to say "God speaks thur me"

okay people, when will we lose this loser? impeach!

The President is living in some sort of dream land. Just a couple of days ago he quoted a supposed blog from Iraq that said in every way things are getting better.

That same day 50 people were killed in a market when they were offered free flour. That same night 60 iraqui men were killed in retaliation.

Because of incompetence by this administration we have already lost the war in Iraq--every life lost, every body maimed, every dollar spent will not stay the inevitable collapse of our efforts there.

If the bleeding hear liberal democrats really think that this war needs to end right now....THEY should just go ahead an d CUT OF FUNDING TOMORROW. This is obviously just a political move based on who and how they chose to rebut the President's address today. Trying to make a veto look like it's the President cutting off the funding for the troops. What a joke. They want the war to end, but don't want to have it on their shoulders when after we pull out of there too soon....the entire region explodes in chaos and millions of people over there are slaughtered...just like when we pulled out of Vietnam.

The president is a bad one, he knows it, we know it. AND he had the nerve at one point to say "God speaks thru me"
saddam is dead, he sees him self as a success because of that - GW is the new definition of blundering idiot - there are some footage where he cant even talk!! (alcohol and drugs?)

this guy is the worst napolean, nero, hitler, loser all wrapped up in one

okay people, when will we lose this loser? impeach!

How insulting!!! It is real interesting to me that the Bush anymore takes us for granted with his stupidity. He compares war and lost lives with peanuts??? is this the best argument he has for the war????? This is comical if it wasn't dangerous. WAKE UP BUSH, please wake up. enough is enough.

The Trib really is in the bag for bush. too bad.

My math is not great, so I was just wondering how many times that $75 million for the peanut farmers goes into the $21 billion the administration has simply lost track of in Iraq?

When did George W. Bush start caring about the security of our troops?

He didn't care when he sent them over to Iraq with no body armor, he didn't care when he sent them out in Humvees with no armor, he didn't care when he misplanned the amount of money needed, he didn't care when he misplanned how many troops to send over in the first place, he didn't care when he didn't plan correctly on how the Iraqi's were going to react to foreign troops on their soil. AND NOW HE CARES?

In his recent radio address, the President is quoted as having said that:

"Under my Administration, we have kept your taxes low and restrained government spending in Washington."

It's time for someone to call Mr. Bush to the mat. "Restrained government spending"? As dishonest an administration as this has been, this is one of the most bold-faced lies he has yet told.

Under the 8 years of the Clinton presidency, the National Deficit was reduced to $0 and the opportunity began to start paying down the National Debt. Since the Bush administration took office in 2001, the National Debt has risen at an unprecedented rate, growing by over $3 Trillion in just over 6 years.

If we allow these lies to be presented to the general public as truth, we put the very foundation of our democracy at risk.

Didn't you hippie babyboomers learn anything from Vietnam?

I find it interesting that Bush did not mention what type of tax increase the top 1 percent wealthiest would suffer. After all, he reduced their taxes more than any of the other examples he gave. Why not say "and if you are a single mom earning 24,000 a year, your taxes will go up 500 dollars. If you make 100 million from capital gains, you now will have to pay 5 million more. Americans just cant take such a burden."

It's just another scare tactic anyway. I'm surprised he didn't say that dems would sell our children to the terrorists, right after they raise your taxes.

AND.....what is worse, cut taxes while increasing spending? or keep taxes where they were so we dont go into debt?

Karl Rove is behind this peanut defense. Typical of his approach to problems, if he doesn't like the message, change the subject. It's absurd to think that Bush is suddenly refusing to sign a critical funding bill because it contains a little pork. Does he really think the American public is too dumb to see through this smokescreen? It's really all about the battle over who's in control. He lost with Rumsfeld, he's going to lose over Gonzo and he's been losing in Iraq for 4 years. It's time for a change and Bush needs to wake up and realize that he's no longer "the decider".

Instead of giving blank checks to his pals and dumping untold billions of dollars into Iraq, Bush is finally being asked for a concrete reason to stay in this war. He can't do it. How can he when his whole invasion was originally built on lies?

It's always been about the oil, his insatiable twisted ego, his failures and his blinded followers.

The Bush team knows what the current problem is about. If not, the Bush team should take a look in the mirror. Its not about crops. Its about the quality of the Bush team's war effort. The war effort that the Bush team's math said should be over in a jiffy.

With the military generals in the background and the civilian "would be" generals in the foreground, America and the world was about to witness the latest "brand new" war strategy. The war would be over in a jiffy.

The "planners" did not need many troops. This effort was going to stray from the traditional. And later the world would see why.

But the new war strategy failed and the war's managers are still in denial.

OK, so forget the initial plans. All the Bush team needs do now is RE-PLAN and continue the expenditures in lives and money. Unless the law of averages is working against them, sooner or later the Bush team will get lucky and when that happens, the war will be over and everyone will live happily ever after.

But in the meantime - the war's managers must "keep on keeping on" or "stay the course" or whatever you want to call it. And do keep those American lives and dollars coming into the management domain of the Bush team. After four years of training, their management skills may start to improve.

By my reckoning, $75 million equals the money we spend every 6 or 7 hours fighting in Iraq--peanuts, indeed. Bush's complaint about politicians getting involved in the war is rather disingenuous, since he ignored generals advising him not to invade Iraq in the first place, and when the generals in the field recommended a gradual pullout last year, he fired them...AND to complain about swollen budgets after the Republican Congress and Administration created the largest deficit in US history...that is real chutzpah!

George, George, I know that the stress of having your back against the wall and everyone telling you that you have been, are now and plan on being wrong with your 'policies' (sic) in Iraq but, nonetheless, how could you misconstrue the concept that YOU are the Commander-in-Chief and, simulatneously, one of the 'Politicians in Washington' (who you say are hampering and interferring with the generals on the ground)and, therefore, fully responsible for what 'stategy' there is condemning them (the generals), and the troops (see latest on Pat Tillman) to cobble together tactics from a limited pool of options...YOU are the 'Obstructioner'!

I too have to vote for "Peanuts"...But let's try to get rid of the earmarks...PLEASE!

If Bush doesn't get his war money then all those big greasy corporations won't be able to build all the weapons to fight this sleazy war that was a lie to begin with.

I say impeach Bush. Indite Bush, Cheney, Rove and Rumsfeld for treason.

This whole mess is the fault of us Americans for being to lazy to search for the truth.

And never, ever, let it happen again. Shameful

If comments like the above reflect the true mood of our country we've probably already gone over the edge. Time for you Democrats to stock up on Korans and buying burkas. Cut and run sums it up well. Gee last time I thought about it we still have troops in Germany. Oh, and like maybe Japan too. Oh, how about that peaceful DMZ in Korea, forgot about those troops. Keep believing the Bush brought down the World Trade Center and don't give up your meth quite yet.
I'll feel a lot safer when Hillary's running the show.

This is BS. The liberals and Dems were calling this 'a mess' before our troops were even deployed. Using Marxist propoganda tactics doesn't make it the truth. Now here we are years later and they're STILL reciting the mantra even now when we're on the verge of stability in Iraq. I know it just scares some people to death the thought of our succeess.

This reminds me of the time I heard one in the liberal media saying "The economy has already started to falter since Bush became President", to which another anchor had to reach over and whisper "He's not been inaugurated yet".

You people should be ashamed of yourselves.

We hear how many billions we have spent in Iraq and AFG.

How much did the 9/11 attacks cost this country in taxes and hurt the economy in late 2001 and 2002. The airline industry is still suffering.

What will another 9/11 cost this country in lives and dollars if we ignore the terrorist threat.

Pulling all troops out of the mideast and ignoring the terrorism there will not impede attacks on this country.

the outlines of the battle have been drawn, Bush vs. the Democratic congress. we will see who has the better gamesmanship, Peloisi and Reed vs. Bush. i hope that the Dems continue to take the offensive and attack Bush on not supporting the troops with his veto. if the dems do not mount up an agressive attack, the White House will win and the 08 elections will be in peril.

I appreciate the information pertaining to the additional added spending in the bill passed by Congress. Clean bills are needed.
Truth be known President Bush and his adminstration has not accepted responsibilty for the failure in Iraq and probably never will.
All Americans want the killing of our troops to end. I believe in "No Child Left Behind" How about "No more Soldiers Killed In Iraq or Left Behind"

Mr. President do the right thing.
Pass the bill

The bridge to nowhere and the peanut subsidies are both wrong. If the peanut subsidies are so correct, put them on their own bill and face an up or down vote on their own standings.

The dems ran on a platform of no more earmarks, and they should stand by it. The earmarks are one of the things that got the GOP booted last year.

If the dems want to defund the war, vot on it - they have the majority. Time for them to put up or shut up.

BENCHMARKS OF FAILURE: DECEIVED MILITARY PERSONAL

Lt. Col. Andre Horne, thank you for serving our country. I strongly disagree with your perception of the war. You seem to be oblivious of the strategic value of Iraq, and of our country's Middle East oil dependency. Violent jihad on the other hand, has always demonstrated their clear objective on strangling the U.S. economy, using oil as their primary weapon.

Al-Qaida's attack on the World Center, was actually part of a grander targeting of the U.S. economy. President Bush acting as Commander-in-Chief could not afford to gamble in allowing a defiant Saddam Hussein to remain in power. Saddam would not cooperate with U.N. weapons inspectors, which helped fuel the doubts and secrecy surrounding Iraq's WMD capabilities.

Although there was considerable amount of time given to resolve the situation in Iraq diplomatically, the timetable for taking action against Saddam Hussein could not wait, on the slow manufacturing of armor for Humvees. To complicate matters, manufacturers of bullet-proof vests were being sued by law enforcement, because the product was failing. The Pentagon had to proceed with caution, to ensure that the vests being issued to our military would not be made of the same defective material. This explains the shortages, which still plaque our military.

Lt. Col. Andre Horne, you make no mention of the effects of psychological warfare, spread by communist sympathizer (pinkos) organizations like CODEPINK, ANSWER, and United For Peace and Justice. Organizations with Marxists goals of bringing down "the U.S. empire" as stated by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. This division-in-the-house was exactly what Osama bin Laden had expected, since after all, the intelligent terrorist is adequately educated on the history of Vietnam. Al-Qaida surrogates wasted no time in starting sectarian violence with the intent on feeding the flames of U.S. propaganda, being advanced by the pinkos.

The benchmarks of failure can be clearly seen, by viewing The Brookings Institutions, Iraq Index page 29. The correlation of attacks against Iraqi civilians, their military, and our own Coalition Forces is in-step with the emergence and activism of pinko organizations. The same organizations that seek the demise of Israel, along with the so called U.S. empire, with the help of military personal like yourself, who are sleeping during guard duty.

Arturo Jabra'il Sancho

Both the Republicans and Democrats have, with the complicit cooperation of the American people, failed to govern well. We get the leaders we deserve. Most Americans believe the lie that we can get something for ourselves at someone else's expense. And you know what is most frustrating? Neither party has enough guts to state this obvious fact. Both parties would rather govern a sinking ship than issue a stern call for us to get the he** off of the U.S.S. Largesse and row on our own boats. Whether is war or welfare, (the two principle of government), neither party performs up to even a D-.

Thank you Lt. Col. Home for logic when so much rhetoric seems to be the order.
Also a Marine vet., I joined protesters at the '68 Democratic Convention here in Chicago only weeks after my discharge. Then again 4yrs ago at one of the first big anti-war protests. Thousands of cops, sheriffs and swat-wannabes lined the route sneering at me. (If they only knew I had been a Marine fighter pilot). Like yourself, I too am a proud Marine, but, a sign has hung in our front window now for over 4yrs.: "War Is Not The Answer".
Martin Luther King's quote is timeless and a necessary directive for this administration.. Try dialogue!
Sure do miss Molly Ivans take on Dubya, and when the "C student" vetos this bill, I'm all for impeachment. It's time we recognize this President for what he is, a failure! I think Molly would also agree.
Cal Harris

I'm a Republican, and I do not support the President. And I know for a fact that most of the military ARE Republicans, and they don't support continuance of the War and the President's position. He's a politician under fire, and the best way he knows how to get out of situations it seems is to lie about everything and tell his "old boys" to lie about everything.

I'm sick and tired of your lies and BS. STOP YOUR BS Mr. President -- or your name will further go down in History as the worst president we've ever had. This is not about YOU, it's about the PEOPLE and our public interest -- when a majority (almost 2 to 1) wants the War to stop by a certain date, it's a public mandate that even the President shall not totalitarianly push aside.

V -- Congress, vote by representation. Otherwise we'll vote you OUT come the next few Congressional elections.

Congress ponied up the money for the troops, so if bush veto's the bill, HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FAILING THE TROOPS! Chew on that for a while....

If this spitting match delves into a stalemate, it could possibly be the best thing that ever happened to the troops in Iraq. I never want to see paychecks bouncing for lack of money, but maybe a complete shutdown of the financing could be a good thing if neither side is willing to blink in this showdown. What would happen if the Pentagon simply ran out of money to fight a war that no one (except George Bush) wants?

Nice try G.W. but the peanut spin won't fly. In fact there are serious doubts that $100 B more in special funding for the Iraq debacle is really necessary. Certainly a Defense department budget that has grown 60% in in 5 years contain more than enough to support our troops on the ground. Why increase the budget when no one can answer the question "Where has all that money gone?" Why send more when so many millions are stolen and siphoned off by corrupt American contractors and their K Street lobbyists as well as Iraqi politicians.

btw, how many of you plan to go vote come 2008 and maybe convince more sane people like yourself to go as well.

Hey, I've got an ingrown toenail and my grass is drying up. Obviously, it's George Bush causing this... he's blamed for everything else!

Its called the house appropriations bill. It is not just for war it is for everything, and the senate has the capability to vote it out. THey didn't as just as they didn't vote out the timetable.

The senate wants to spend 145 billion more than the President has in his plan. Does the president include in his plan the 150 billion or so he will be requesting in a supplemental bill to fight the war that is costing us a lot more than dollars. So far the war without an end has been fully funded with supplementary borrowed dollars. When does the president plan on paying for this war and with what.

The Democrats should have anticipated Bush's peanut objection and kept ALL PORK off this bill, but let's face it, they REALLY DON't want him to sign off on it because they want partisanship and they thrive on controversy at the expense of our men and women serving in our great military. SHAME ON ALL YOU POLITICIAN DUMB MASSES!!!

Let's see how this plays this coming fall...in about the middle of the third quarter, the board of directors of the Chicago Bears will call down from the booth and say, "it's over, we win, time to pack up and leave." It won't matter what the score is or if anything's been won or lost. Perhaps more importantly, all the work the players put in the first half will be for nothing.

Well, you see, its like this:

If we didn't have a war in Iraq to act as a huge diversion, we might get something done like immigration reform, because if everybody would focus on it, everyone would be sick and tired of the cost in both dollars and crime that illegal immigration has cost us as a nation.

But if we can focus the attention of Americans on another 150 Iraqis killed, and another servicman or woman killed by an IED device, then who cares about illegal immigrants?

The war is nothing more than something to get our focus off what really matters. I was deceived and voted for Bush both times. I regret I did.

I guess the best we can hope for now is some accountability.

But it will forever be too little, too late.

Dear Lt. Col. Horne, I am very very dissapointed to hear you say that President Bush should pass this bill attaching pork spending the the military needs. This shows you have been brain washed by the enemy, the democrates. Right now they are this countries "worse enemy" and it is going to come to a showdown sooner or later. They spend 90% of their time in hearings pointing fingers at the administration and doing nothing for this country but causing trouble internally. I am sick of those whiny faces on television pointing fingers and not doing a damn thing to help our soldiers by trying to take money away from every tax payer to give to meaningless causes and worthless others. You are a disgrace to the uniform and can't see what the problem really is. Ray Bryant vet. and patriot.

Why is it so hard to understand that if you set a deadline to pull out in war that all the terrorists have to do is lay low until that day, then they can very easily take over the country.
Sorry, but I prefer to hand over Iraq to Iraq and not alqueda or Iran which is EXACTLY what this Democratic bill will do.
Not to mention the fact, That according to the US
CONSTITUTION, there is only one person in charge of military strategy and that person is the Commander-in-Chief. Once congress approves going to war, the ONLY thing left they can do is fund it or not fund it. If they dont want this war then they should of just refused to fund it, instead of trying to set a military strategy with this bill. I would have had more respect for Democrats if they had.

It's so disgusting to me that Bush would use the peanut funding as an excuse to veto a bill that FINALLY sets a timetable for pulling out our occupation of a country embroiled in civil-war-in-slow-motion. The Bush Administration has squandered Trillions on un-needed tax cuts for the Obscenely Rich, generous handouts for the un-regulated Greedy Corporations, and no-bid, unaccountable contracts for the War Profiteers. My memory retains all record of the almost decade-long span of the Bush Administration's criminal malfeasance, and there's no way he can slip those peanuts by me.

The Republicans were no great shakes when they had control, but the Democrats are absolutely acting out every criticism of them since Gulf War I. (Panty-waists, perverts, subversives, Stalinists and crypto-traitors) I'd veto every damn thing that clutch of fools in Congress sends up until they get it even approximately right. By the way, a great number of Marines of like combat experience with Lt. Colonel Horne would argue that he must have been prosecuting a war in a different place. I am a former Marine who is beginning to doubt "former Marines" (e.g., Murtha, Webb) professing a clearer appreciation of the problem and the failings of leadership.

Bill Maher is sooooooo right or do I mean left. Someone please tell me what is worse A: a president getting a little afternoon delight in the Oval office and trying to keep his wife from finding out. Or B: a president that has no concept of War, never personally saw war,tried like hell to personally stay out of the war and now wants to wage war on terrosists. His policys have faild miserably, his country is falling apart his party is distancing themselves as far as possible. Tell me is there a village in Texas that has lost their IDIOT?

Good for Bush. It's obvious the democrats don't give a damn about the troops and would rather surrender to terrorists. Enough said!

GWB hid from supervision while he wore a uniform so how could he appreciate supervision of his own personal vendetta activity. I'm sure he thinks, "This is my war and no one is going to tell me when we get to leave or how to operate". He is certainly a great example to our children and grandchildren of what can happen when a spoiled rich boy, raised without discipline, gets control. Vote smart!

MR Bush- The definition of insanity it to do the same action over and over again and expect a different result. You have shamed America, Christians, Muslims, Jews, and anyone else who loves America(I can not think of a race whom you had not shamed, Dont forget MA and Pa Bush too). You preach hatred and display your power in small minded and ignorant ways. You demean, I mean lead the most amazing country in the world with a VP who made 9 million dollars in 2005, while in office; one might question where your/his loyalty, your/his true loyalty realy lies (war/travisty is a money maker)? Who is driving this car Mr Bush. Sir we the people are tired of being manipulated by an a Radical Fanatical Cristian who uses his faith to undermine and destroy our beautiful America. I would hope that the next president will have maintained more than a "C" average. So Curious George the complaint about peanuts confuses me, It seems that the peanuts are all you have ever been able to focus on.
Hey beavis, Does "W" stand for "DUH"?

Bush should be ashamed. He has spent nine trillion dollars on defense, including Iraq and Afghanistan. He has cut veterans' benefits, school lunches, levee maintenance funds-- everything but money for war, and tax breaks and subsidies and tax refunds for corporations like Enron and the wealthiest people in America. The poor pay more than their fair share, but the rich don't pay at all. All social and environmental funds were cut, excepting the sixty billion he gave to Halliburton to repair the damage done by cutting six million from levee maintenance.
We now have more mercury in our air. Bush evidently doesn't think he breathes the same air as the rest of us.
We now have more toxic compounds and pig feces in our waters.
He took our nation from peace and prosperity to war and debt.
And this is, don't forget, an illegal war that violates our own doctrine of "just war." We violated the Geneva Convention, the Nuremburg Principles, and made torture the law in America. We were never attacked- Bush even turned down Saddam's offer to bring in the US Army to search the entire country for WMD's. Bush preferred war.
Bush censored the Swiss Ambassador for bringing an offer from Iran to stop uranium enrichment and negotiate our differences.
Bush prefers war, because his cronies are set up to profit from destruction-- from conflict, crisis, and catastrophe. They're addicted to oil at triple the price it was when Bush was appointed by the Supreme Court, which ruled: "...counting votes would be unfair to Bush..."
They stifle innovation and reduce the free press to a puppet show.
Inevitably, the light of truth will dawn to subdue this vampire administration.

C. Perry,

Just give up...please!!!! Your whining shows how pathetic an individual you really are.

I say if we want this all to go away, tell the politicians to shut up, quit bickering amongst each other(same country means same side)and actually do what they promise, and look out for the people they are supposed to be serving and quit looking for a way to fatten their pockets at our expense, and the expense of our troops lives. Are we in the dark ages? or are we on our way back to the dark ages?

History will confirm that indeed Dubya has been the worst President in the history of this great nation. Not only is he the worst president but he leads the worst administration with the likes of "rapid-fire" Cheney, Karl Rove, Donald Rumsfield, John Ashroft, Condi Rice, Josh Bolton, Alberto Gonzales and the list goes on and on. How much time do you have? And there is never any real accountabilty on this President nor his administration. They can lie, deceit, cheat and send the nations sons and daughters to an unjustified war which has nothing to do with Sept 11 attacks; they can take the eyes of the perpetrators of the attack - Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan to a nation which has large surplus of Oil.

Now when the more realistic Dems have decided enough is enough and its time - after almost half a trillion dollars on war spending, over 3200 dead American soldiers, over 20,000 injured troops and still no shelter from terrorism - to pull the troops out by a certain date. His plan is to send more troops in and call it a surge.....well they say "Stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".

Not only will this president go down in history as the worst president but also as the "stupidest" one.

hey, at least he didn't call them "peanuts of mass destruction"

As a Canadian, I have seen this tragic endeavor into Iraq from outside-the box. I have seen the fervor and hysteria of post 9/11, and the quick-fix mentality of your beliefs. I looked in absolute disbelief as your commander-in-chief linked Iraq with al Queda. He stated the world had to make a choice, you're either with us or against us. He has shown that the United Stes government is a dysfunctional entity. How could Congress and the Senate blindly follow his escapade? He has been entwined with the military-industrial complex since his inauguration. President Eisenhower stated in his farewell address that Americans had to be vigilant for the power of the "military-industrial complex" threatened the welfare and the liberty of America. Yet with each generation comes the ability to be ignorant of the past. Well, the past has become the present once again, and I fear the future for years ahead. There is no getting out of this mess now -- it will only escalate and expand. The seeds have been sown, all in the name of freedom, or should I say power and profit. When historians look upon this era of American politics, they shall see a nation of brute force and of the sheep that followed. In all fairness, it is only when the PEOPLE run the government that there shall be democracy. Yet as long as the division of people and politics remains, there shall be the tyrants and the oppressed.

Bush certainly has no claim to fiscal responsibility. He inherited a government that had produced huge surplusses year after year and turned it into one with the biggest annual deficits in history. He ignored unprecedented pork added bills sponsored by the Republican majorities in Congress, vetoing nothing in his first 6 years as deficits grew to record levels.
All Americans would like to see clean bills and the line item veto, but the so called "conservative" Republicans, who had 6 years to pass such legislation, did no such thing. Instead they gorged on pork, making their Democratic predecessors look like piker. His claims of Republican fiscal discipline are empty words, belied by the actions of his cronies and his failure to stop them.

For the president to attack these bills in this way is sadly ironic and typical. How can Bush dare to use the American people's aversion to higher taxes in an attempt to draw support for his stance against what is actually being proposed by congress? In his argument he fails to acknowledge that his stance of continuing U.S. involvement will cost astronomically more money to the American people in the long run then the proposal of drawing back. I guess he reasons that as long as he isn’t in office when it comes time to pay then he has somehow escaped obligation.

I think that they gotta stop this war. Wow, the fact still pops in my head that i don't see Mr.Bush going out on the field of battle (though some people want him to get out there and never be seen again). But all kidding aside, cut it out Bush, your cute little games aren't funny anymore. Just give it up, with about 80% or more of America hating your guts just quit before it becomes 100%. Soon even Condolezza won't be there by your side anymore.

I'm totally disgusted by the lies that Bush continues to try to get away with. And I'm insulted that he appears to continue to think that I'm so dumb that I'm going to believe them.

There's no question that Nancy and the Dems loaded up the bill with pork. But it's also without question that the Republicans did that and worse when they were in power. You didn't see Bush moaning and sputtering about it when it happened over and over in the previous six years. Who shipped a completely loaded cargo plane of hundred dollar bills to Iraq and then lost the whole wad?! It's a statement about how much cleaning up we still have to do in Congress that the Dems had to load the bill with pork to pass it.

Better this bill and some accountability than more of the totally incompetent and unbelieveably out of control Bush agenda!

This government has always cost us more than it is worth. Politics is nothing more than reciprocity. A politician will always vote for something that will turn around and vote for him. Let's get on with putting an end to this war.

Caution Mr. President .... Eat your peanuts one by one. A handful is as dangerous to your health as one large pretzel! Mr. President you are one big goober. Your failed, incompetent, lying administration is soooooo responsible for the total mess that is now Iraq, and the billions of wasted taxpayer dollars that are required to keep this fiasco alive. Tell me again how nine billion dollars spent in Iraq can not be accounted for!

Wow-- all this talk from W on how Dems will be raising taxes... no mention of the $100s of billions burned in the desert for no reason that could have gone towards supporting the tax cuts he so desperately wants to maintain. W is no fool, he knows that 80% of Americans are not bright when it comes to politics and that when they hear the government is going to take more of their money, they run the other way. It's a shameful byproduct of capitalism and a terrible education system.

Before a big game, would you tell a football coach exactly which plays he has to run in the third quarter of the game and announce it to everyone, including the opposing team? Of course not. Yet this is the way Democrats are trying to run a war and more than a simple game is at stake. It's bad war strategy no matter what political party is behind it. Everyone knows that the bill would not have passed if the Democrats hadn't put in so much pork to bribe members of their own party to vote for the bill. That's the issue. The Democrats claim that this is what the people of America want but in reality, they can't convince even Democratic politicians to support it without these special interest payoffs. They will never propose a clean spending bill with a timeline to get us out of Iraq because they know the bill wouldn't pass. When will politicians realize that they are speaking to more than one audience? All they are thinking about is people who might vote for them and they are totally ignoring the fact how Al-Qaida, Iran, and even our allies are listening to their words and see us as unreliable loosers. This strengthens terrorists and weakes our friendships and credibily abroad.

So if 20000 Amercians die due to terorists contaminating peanuts, can we finally send him the bill?
The recent food contamination scares should be telling us something. Food security is in fact more important that damn near anything else. I won't go into the details in case there are (stupid) terrorists reading this, but its very plausible that we can lose a lot more people than we have in 9/11 and Iraq combined.

If the Dems were serious about winning the war, they would have presented a spending bill that substituted that $74mil of peanut storage with ammo, body armor and reinforce hummers. What in the world does Shrimp, Dairy products, Spinach and new offices for congress have to do with our Military? Unless they have come out with some gun that shoots out peanuts or better body armor made from shrimp shells, you better rethink your spending of American's hard earned money. Isn't the best way to bring wars to an end to show unrelenting, unstoppable and fierce firepower to the enemy? That's the way we use to win wars before the Dems dismantled our Military strength and turned into the party of appeasement. Yes, of course we want our troops to come home as soon as possible, but it's been several years that Dems have had a chance to develop a plan for winning. All I have seen is a plan for our defeat. You can't really complain about our President when the only thing you have done is seek out ways to destroy the Administration instead of coming up with feasible ways to win, secure our borders, develop energy independence and keep this economy humming. Is this what we will get from our newly elected Democrat majority Congress? If you spent half as much time trying to make this country great as you are tearing it down, we would have been done with Iraq, provided our people with security and helped to make this great Country even more prosperous than it is now. I respect your opinions and definitely encourage debate, but who's side are you on?
Give us a military bill that, I don't know, maybe goes towards THE TROOPS!

President Bush is a complete and total idiot, not to mention arrogant compassionless, evil, bigot.
My 3 year old nephew speaks better and has a better understanding of the world than he.
The simple fact that America hasn't prosecuted this criminal
and all his cronies yet, proves just how rotten and corrupt our government has really become.
There isn't a place in hell hot enough for the pain agony and suffering Bush has caused the world, esp. the middle east.
BTW, Why did WTC 7 collapse like a controlled demolition?
Why did PNAC insist "Need another pearl harbor"?
What about those Cheney iraqis energy meetings?
Where are those WMD's?
Where's the wreckage or any sign of wreckage of any of the crashes on 9-11?
What is the government hiding? Or do they even bother anymore? They are blatent as hell with their crimes.

For the president to attack these bills in this way is sadly ironic and typical. How can Bush dare to use the American people's aversion to higher taxes in an attempt to draw support for his stance against what is actually being proposed by congress? In his argument he fails to acknowledge that his stance of continuing U.S. involvement will cost astronomically more money to the American people in the long run then the proposal of drawing back. I guess he reasons that as long as he isn’t in office when it comes time to pay then he will have somehow escaped obligation.

Bush complaining about pork? This entire war has been one big pork project for Bush's oil buddies and his cronies at Halliburton. Billions of dollars lost in graft and waste, while our troops died without proper body armor,or steel-plated vehicles. Things are much worse over there than our government lets on. Our troops have gone hungry, while Bush's cronies lined their pockets and stuffed their bank accounts. Our boys with devastating injuries come home and are nickle-and-dimed by the VA. They are treated like shifty dicks who are out to cheat somebody. Reservists who lost arms and legs don't get the artificial limbs they deserve. Their neighbors and churches have to throw bake sales to help them. Pitiful. The way Bush has prosecuted this war has been pitiful. And lack of money was not the problem. The problems were greed and incompetence.

Well let him veto the bill.... I think we decrease the Iraq dollars by $10 Billion until it goes to zero.... One way or the other the American People will get their wish.

Remember the US dollar, the next North American Peso. Thank You King George (Bubba) I of Texas!

Bush says the Dem's budget is loaded w/ billions in pork - then he lists examples that total $84 million.

$84 million is not billions. Billions are what is wasted every week in Iraq.

Bush wants to continue dumping over 4 billion a week in Iraq, all unaccounted for and most going to his war-profiteering buddies, despite evidence of rampant corruption.

How many more of our troops have to die because we don't have the cahones to do what needs to be done?

Can we PLEASE start impeaching these criminals?

I also agree we need clean bills. We also need line item vetoes which is long over due!! The pork built in both bills is despicable. Did you notice there is also 6.4 million for the house salaries!!!! Isn't it great when you can issue your own increase in pay. Not many can.

We also need Term Limits. Some of the members of both houses have been there way too long and need to retire. They will still collect a ridiculous amount for a pension but better that than working part time in congress.

I don't know why people aren't getting ticked off about the salary and expense funds raise for the House of Representatives. Here they are making this bold move to help bring our troops home, and they decide to go ahead and give themselves a raise in the process.

Amazing how the Democrats have suddenly changed their tune. Even Hillary sounds like Kerry They were saying the same thing Bush said before we indvaded Iraq. When the WMD's were spirited to Syria, it is suddenly Bush's war.

Fake arguments, cut and run. Dear Democrats, please learn to lead. You screwed up the Viet Nam war, Now don't cut and run in Iraq.

Countries like Iraq which kidnap soldiers, bomb barracks containing US servicemen need to feel the warm kiss of plutonium.

View of a Former 3rd Infantry Division Soldier

Regardless of what the President says today. He can not escape the fact that he failed our troops. When he stood on that flat top and announced “Mission accomplished”. He accomplished exactly what he’d hoped for.
Saddom’s competitive priced oil would be off the marked. Allowing for the administrations ties with other mid eastern oil to control and profit. We see that at the pump as well as Exxon’s’ yearly earnings. Did you know they have a tanker named Condaliza? The vice’s connections with companies like TBR, Blackwater, Halliburton are the ones that most tend to benefit from the proposed budget.
I feel lethargic when I hear our President standing behind the strong proud chests of our troops
“ My Son” stating that cutting war funding will only hurt the troops. Bull! My Navy combat soldier of two tours still wears the flak jacket I bought him off E-Bay and had $30.00 garnished from his pay to reimburse supply contractors for the magazine (clip) he lost in the Iraq sand. Listen to those who go.

Bush is a swaggering war machine, a moronic religious fanaticist. He is his own mega image of a Godly war president and Cheney is archangel Liar in Chief. Maybe Bush hates peanuts because Carter raised peanuts, was way smarter, and won a Nobel Prize for his humanitarian efforts.

There is no reason for the war in Irag; Bush's oil pals want control of the oil and Cheney's Halliburton (and maybe Secretary Baker, too) continue the charade.

Cheney has never done anything beneficial for America. His center and ambition "If you don't support the war you don't support the troops!" a stupid statement lacking in his usual cunning. The people want out! Now!

Peanuts or War. When I enlisted the issue than was hostages in Iran. America had the son of a Peanut Farmer in the Ovbal Office than. As I recall, no one liked his solutions either. I agree, clean bills from Congress. Address the issue and lets come up with something we are not going to have to re address 20 years from now.
Ask the Russians about Afganistan.

It's almost incredulous that Bush ignores the heart of the bill and attacks the Democrats over & over, scapegoating them for raising taxes while expecting the funds for his war to just fall out of thin air.

While this bill is regretfully laden with pork, Bush's "disciplined" spending policies and habits that he heralds are an insult to the peoples' intelligence.

President Bush squandered his credibility and damaged the U.S.'s leadership role in the world long ago by taking us to war in Iraq under the poor counsel of guys like Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and Paul Wolfowitz. While Saddam Hussein was contained, and Iraq was holding Iran in check, we should have routed Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan - as proper retaliation for 9/11 - and rebuilt that country as a model for the world to see. Hindsight is 20/20, but the opportunity in Afghanistan was obvious even in early 2002. We have lost our way under George W Bush and burdened future generations of Americans with war debt, dead and wounded soldiers of military families, and lowered political capital around the globe. In other words, our President has placed a tremendous present and future tax on the American people in a failed attempt to achieve his misguided political goals.

What I find amazing is that all the Mr. Bush suddenly has a distaste for "un-clean spending bills". I do agree with him, but what I want to know is why hasn't he tried to relsove the problem? I think its a little late to step up to the plate for Mr.Bush beause he has struck out. Mr. Bush's legacy will be a black hole of debt and a terrible foreign policy for our children to resolve.

1. If US loses the war, Iran wins and we leave Iraq in tatters.
2. If US winning means putting a party in place, then the current part is Shia which means Iran stands to win and exercise more control - Saddam and others were massacred to hurt Sunnis more than to follow law. You cannot put Sunnis in Iraq because Kurds and Shia join hands and always form majority. Shia or Sunni, it would become a dumb Islamic state.
Either way, always Iran wins and we make a hopeless islamic state in Iraq. How does Dubya want to play his hand?
There is only one solution to win this war and I am willing to tell only the Prez. :-)

If all the money that has been spent in Iraq had been spent here at home, we could have medical care for everyone, education for all our children, new infrastructure, and who knows what else. If all the tax breaks given to the richest of the rich, were given to the 98% who struggle to stay alive, we could have created a decent society in which all people would share in the wealth of this counry.
With a president who lies and spins and twists the truth as in his above mentioned speech, we don't need any enemies, we have Gdubu.

I hope he does veto this.
Congress shouldn't throw in all this other stuff, let alone determine a pull out date. They should only approve funding or decide not to.
Strategy of war is, according to the US Constitution, the job of the sitting US President
only, not congress.

Morris, it's not furnace. The money is for Halliburton&Co.

It's really pity for all Iraqi people, who suffer in such worse times, their ruined homes and economy, their dreams of a better future and families, their country is just wasted.

And somehow, the irony is that the Iraqis need to be sacrificed to ruin the future of the common Americans also. No money to fix problems at home.

No peanut butter next year, except for Halliburton family. At least I do not believe Bush is so stupid to run amok for 5 years without his personal exit plan.

Probably the balance of powers will be shifted away from US to more strategically commited countries. US is committing suicide, looking in long terms. And this is healthy for the earth.

Bush does not care. He will retire happily.
So I also do not care also about the American sacrifice to install democracy somwhere in desert above the oil. I do only worry about the police state which is being gradually enforced all over the world, just to squeeze the common people. Am I paranoia? Have I saw too many Sci-Fi horror movies?

Last week every elected official in Washington was upset about Walter Reed and how Veterans are treated and then they spend money on peanut storage. Maybe we can get the peanut companies to pay for the repair and up keep of the hospital.

Bring back the Line Item Veto.

War is real. People are dying. I like peanuts too. That MRE peanut butter is okay though, but not good.
Iran will destabilize the entire gulf region. They already do. Saudi Arabia's oil monarchs are feeling it now. So if we cut and run and let Iraq fall, are we going to just cross our fingers and hope it works out? When gas goes to $4.00 or $4.50 at the pump, who is going to step up and say in a Jimmy Carter way "we have to sacrifice" and "it is not worth fighting for?" Are we going to print a bunch of money and drive mopeds in the next big depression?
Democrats did not want to go to war in Iraq. They did not want to send ANY troops, much less the 300,000 that the hind sight 20/20 lookers say we should have sent. They are content to play politics with our fighting men and women's lives. They could fund Walter Reed now. They could have done that long ago. It is more BS of the Democratic variety.
Americans did not want to send that many troops either. We won the war with what we had. Imposing domestic security in Iraq requires more people. That is where Bush has fallen short. We have got to go to war with Iran now. We must leave Iraq and let the chips fall where they may. But we cannot just throw in the towel and quit. Sometimes things are not easy. Sometimes it hurts bad, but we have got to step up and fight for our country.

Yeah, but keeping a bill clean is like keeping a white shirt clean while dragging it through the mud. It just doesn't happen. It's a politician thing, not democrat or republican. It's the timeline he obviously has a problem with. He needs to stop trying to play off the stupidity of the American people.
So like Bill said "Call a spade a spade Mr. president and stop avoiding the real issue."

Bush should be ashamed. He has spent nine trillion dollars on defense, including Iraq and Afghanistan. He has cut veterans' benefits, school lunches, levee maintenance funds-- everything but money for war, and tax breaks and subsidies and tax refunds for corporations like Enron and the wealthiest people in America. The poor pay more than their fair share, but the rich don't pay at all. All social and environmental funds were cut, excepting the sixty billion he gave to Halliburton to repair the damage done by cutting six million from levee maintenance.
We now have more mercury in our air. Bush evidently doesn't think he breathes the same air as the rest of us.
We now have more toxic compounds and pig feces in our waters.
He took our nation from peace and prosperity to war and debt.
And this is, don't forget, an illegal war that violates our own doctrine of "just war." We violated the Geneva Convention, the Nuremburg Principles, and made torture the law in America. We were never attacked- Bush even turned down Saddam's offer to bring in the US Army to search the entire country for WMD's. Bush preferred war.
Bush censored the Swiss Ambassador for bringing an offer from Iran to stop uranium enrichment and negotiate our differences.
Bush prefers war, because his cronies are set up to profit from destruction-- from conflict, crisis, and catastrophe. They're addicted to oil at triple the price it was when Bush was appointed by the Supreme Court, which ruled: "...counting votes would be unfair to Bush..."
They stifle innovation and reduce the free press to a puppet show.
Inevitably, the light of truth will dawn to subdue this vampire administration.

Lets just surrender now and be surrender monkeys like the French. Then the terrorists will shift their focus to Afghanistan and an ex Colonel will tell us to get out of Afghanistan. Vote for Hillary! Vote for Osama, I mean Obama.

Mr. President, have you not heard that "YOU CAN FOOL SOME OF THE PEOPLE SOME OF THE TIME, BUT YOU CAN NOT FOOL ALL THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME"?

We live in this country, the civil war was about this country, as was the war to run England back to their home land. You said the Iraqis are just as we were wanting freedom. WRONG.... We fought for our freedom, we did not have another country do it for us, much less build us back up again after the fight. We stood up and did this our self as Americans. There seems to be much of our own history you seem to have forgotten or never learn.

The Iraq government refuses to work together to make their government work. And while they fight between themselves, we have young men and women dying to fight for them.

You stated some time back that our mission was completed there, yet more than a year later we are still there to fight a new and different battle for them " A CIVIL WAR"...

The Congress and Senate passed the funds for the troops, if you veto This bill it is you and you alone that keep the funds from the troops... And please don't talk about pork to bills, You yourself had a bill passed with your team mates the republicans in congress and senate that gave billions of dollars in tax cuts to the rich and big industries, leaving the taxes burdens of low and middle income Americans. Or was that just a retirement plan for you and Channey?????

When you were elected it was to help American, here in this country, instead you have turned your back on Americans but taken as much money as you can drain from us for a war in the wrong country. In case you for got we were suppose to be getting Bin Liden, you know that one that hit the towers.

You have given this country a bad name, our standing in the world is the lowest ever. You sat at home and watched as hundreds died during Kitrina. still many that survived are left without homes and unsure how long they will be able to stay were they are....

WE HAVE WATCHED EVERYDAY AS YOUNG AMERICA'S IN IRAQ ARE KILLED, FOR A GOVERNMENT THAT REFUSES TO WORK AS ONE FOR THE GOOD OF ALL THEIR PEOPLE.
THE DEATH TOLL RAISES EVERYDAY. IT'S MORE THAN TIME TO BRING THE TROOPS HOME, AND START WORKING FOR WHAT IS AMERICA..

TO VETO THE BILL SENT TO YOUR DESK FROM CONGRESS AND SENATE WOULD BE WRONG ON YOUR PART, FOR IT HAS YOUR FUNDING AND FOR ONCE DURING THIS WHOLE MESS YOU MADE IT HAS ACCOUNTIBILITY FOR THE IRAQIS... IF YOU SHOULD VETO.... I CERTAINLY HOPE CONGRESS AND SENATE'S NEXT MOVE ON YOU IS CALLED.... IMPEACHMENT..........

oH, OH ... I FORGOT mR. bUSH HERE IS A SANDWICH FOR YOU IT IS CALLED " MISSION COMPLETED AND PEANUT BUTTER" TRY IT WITH MILK...

The democratic leadership in Congress is more than willing to throw the Country (U.S.A.) under the buss to gain personal and party power. The lack of patriotism and statesmanship exhibited by Ms Pelosi and Harry Reed is at the least disgraceful and at times borders on treason.
Pres Bush is doing his utmost to protect us from terrorists and win a very real war against a sworn enemy,the radical Islamists, who have vowed to kill us.
The propeganda machine that passes itsself off as news,news papers, network radio and most T.V.news channels have vilified our President when they should have been supporting his effort to protect our country from it's enemies. After all that is what his primary job as Pres. is to do.
We patriotic citizens must speak out in favor of our Pres. and show the world that we are united in our effort to win this war.

Time used to be when this country went to war everyone understood that it was a shared responsibility with shared sacrifice. Now we have a President who for four years has been conducting a war on the cheap while his and Cheney's cronies have been rewarded lavishly with no-bid contracts and feeding at the public trough. While our troops went without proper armor and weapons his incompetent sycophants were shipping 362 tons of untraceable cash on pallets to Iraq to be squandered and stolen. While our military families have been made to sacrifice not once, but up to four times, with multiple deployments, Bush has the temerity to give a speech which urges the ultimate selfishness upon the rest of America. He tells us that to pass the Democrats' legislation, which seeks to improve the lives of our military and to protect our deployed troops and to care for those who have served, may mean that the rest of us will have to pay a few more dollars in taxes and he urges upon us a sense of craven self-interest. He quibbles over a few million dollars designated for the peanut farmers who last year were brought to their knees by drought while ignoring the main provisions of the legislation. Here's hoping no one's buying the kool aid he's selling.

The new Congress is not trying to engage the Bush team in a "battle". But the new Congress would like to have the Bush team answer questions under oath.

Testifying under oath is a perfectly Christian, Democratic bedrock American request. And for a team so used to "EXPORTING" Democracy you would expect an unchallenged acceptance of a Congressional request for testifying under oath.

Or would you? All Americans have Fifth Amendment rights. And this Congress would NEVER try to take that away from America. But while you might expect certain "unsavory" types to do a lot of Fifth Amendment pleading - would you expect the U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT to plead the Fifth Amendment?

Something still seems "bad wrong" with the Bush team's memory. Member A of the Justice don't remember taking part in activity Z. Member B, once a member of the Justice Department, remembers Member A taking part in activity z. Could that be a hint why the Bush team don't want to go near a process that includes "testifying under oath"?

Is it possible to have a Bush team + Congress "meeting of the minds" on withdrawing troops from Iraq? It doesn't look like. The jury could still be out on whether Mr. Bush was ELECTED or CROWNED.

I see the president is shocked, shocked to find there is pork included in the war funding bill. I agree with the other posters that much of this pork is probably unnecessary and should be eliminated, but it just amazes me that this president, after 6+ years of approving bridges to nowhere and phony casino deals and other GOP largesse, suddenly tells us, apparently with a straight face, that we need to stop pork barrel spending. And then he goes on to try to warn about how the Dems will supposedly be raising taxes to cover additional proposed spending. This from a president who was handed a record budget surplus and turned it into record deficits; who got us into two very expensive wars without funding them (and who is still not fully planning or funding for its aftermath, such as veteran's care); who signed a huge social welfare program for prescription drugs, which sapped money from addressing the Social Security problems he mentioned in this speech; who set records for spending money - more in relative terms than even liberal presidents like LBJ; who discontinued the 'pay-go' rules he now criticizes the Dems for not following. Yes, there are certainly limits that we as a country need to address or discuss as to the government programs that we can or should continue to fund. Ordinary citizens realize there are limits - the only thing that is limitless is the pure gall and hubris of this president and his administration of lackies.

No timeline, no deadline! It only encourages the enemy and causes more American Soldiers deaths. Why cant the obtuse, delusional democrats understand this?

Yeah, sure - like the Prez cares about giving some money to farmers - he's giving them BILLIONS while driving up the price of every consumer item that uses corn - yes, the big corps get a 50 cents a gallon rebate for producing ethanol.

This guy says nothing about the BILLIONS wasted by Haliburton,et al - the 12 billion they flew over there in CASH and then did not account for, etc. et.c

It's not about the peanuts - that's exactly how much money 75 million is compared to 500 BILLION.

It's about someone daring to demand accountability and reversal of failed policies.

Those 'peanut' earmarks are a consequence of two things.

1) The do-nothing Repug Congress' failure to address domestic issues when they were in power.

2) The fact that Bush does not really care about any budget that is not about his war games.

I agree that the Dems should continue to send Bush budgets that basically say "You take care of things at home first and then we will give you your war games allowance."

Let's get real. With Bush if the military budget was separate from the domestic budget then the military budget would be spent within minutes while the domestic budget would be jerked around and denied for months.

This is a general emergency appropriation bill, not just a bill for the war. Most of the "earmarks" on this bill are just that - unplanned expenditures. The president and the GOP are lying about what these expenditures are. They are not just pork (though some of them are).

Lying and the GOP - perfect together.

JMJ

This bill is unconstitutional, and Congress knows it. There is no part of our system of government that allows Congress to take control of military time-lines. That fact aside, artificial and arbitrary time-lines to not ensure accountability. The administration and our military have, however, used measurable milestones, such as elections, consistently throughout this conflict and should continue to do so.

I hate pork, but I hate politics more, and this bill reeks of politics.

"The bigger the lie, the more people will believe it.
Reichminister Goebels, Berlin 1941

Comments are not posted immediately. We review them first in an effort to remove foul language, commercial messages, irrelevancies and unfair attacks. Thank you for your patience.


we had patience with Hitler.

we had patience with Gobbles.

we had patience with Stalin.

we had patience with Sadam.

NOW YOU ARE ASKING FOR OUR Patience!

AS WELL AS HILLERY, UBOMMBA, KERRY, TEDDY et al,

including PILL-LOUSY!

THE "LIB CONTROLED" WORLD REALY OFFERS GREAT

CHOICES.

Dear Georgie,For the 400 Billion Dollars the war has cost to date,plus or minus some billions, the US could have built a Buckminster Fuller Dome and and kept us all safe under lock and key.Ooops. Maybe that's what they really want! Mike in Vermont. Clean bills are good.

"$6.4 million for the House of Representatives' Salaries and Expenses Account" . Does that come to about $15,000 a head? Are they throwing in a personal salary increase to fund a war. Does that mean they expect to have to work and not get spring break off? Did they already plan for that? Expensive spring break.

Peanuts... Peanuts?!!? How dare he talk about PEANUTS to the American people rather than deal directly with his failures as Commander-in-Chief. The Little Lord Pissypant's routine Dubya pulls every time congress tries to hold him accountable is getting really old. There is nothing he can say, at this point, to make the majority of American's believe he has THEIR best interest at heart. The American people are SECONDARY to protecting Bu$hco.'s interests, at ALL costs. He needs to just stop pretending the American people matter to him. As for me, I'm thankful I will never have to explain to grandchildren why I voted for that SCUMBAG and his administration. GOD SAVE US FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF HAVING BU$HCO. FOR EIGHT YEARS.

While all the Liberal coward Bush haters buy into the left wing manufactured propaganda, the enemy is simply delighted. Remember them? The enemy? Those guys that did the 9-11 hotsy totsy flying our own innocents into our own buildings? Has anyone noticed the "similarity" between the Iran hostage demand and the Democrat demand that we leave Iraq? Could it be that Iran knows how easy it will be to occupy Iraq the day after we leave? Gee, ya think?

Better dig a DEEP bunker boys, the mush room clouds are being planed for your stupid town and only one lonley man at the top is looking out for you.

PORK= Bribe, that is how they 'BUY' our senetors.
It is a shame. $358 Billion of PORK.
We need a Blue or Red President who will not sign any bill with pork attached.
Time to cleanup the House.

It is sad to listen to the Repugnatcans whine about the budget the Democrats are proposing when the Republican controlled congress of 2006 NEVER even sceduled votes for 9 of the 11 appropriation bills for the budget.
Under Republican leadership we never even got a budget passed in 2006.
They want to give thmselves pay-raises, and claim to be fiscally responsible when they are failing to do their job and are bankrupting the country.
If I didn't show up for work and didn't complete my job, I would not expect a pay raise, I would be fired! Americans should be outraged and demand those responsible for these failures to be FIRED.
Impeach those who have led our country into this failure.

Neither party has done us any good. At least the Republicans let me spend my money the way I see fit. The real facts are that neither party has the answer for Iraq and terrorism. History shows that with power comes peace. We have become weak in the eyes of the world. It's time we bring our boys home and let what happens happen in Iraq. Once we let the terrorist supporting nations know we will bring an end to their country if they continue to support this Muslim craziness they will stop feeding these folks money,weapons, and a safe haven. One nuke in the desert in Iran will show the world it's time for this crap to stop and we mean business. The terrorist leader confided that if he had known that Israel would respond the way they did over their soldier being kidnapped a while back they wouldn't have done it, jee go figure!Wake up folks and realize the world will only be safe if we show the willingness to force peace thru the projection of power and the willingness to use it. People ignored Hitler until it was too late and over 60 million people died worldwide from it. Wait too long with the state supported Muslim terrorists and we as Christians and Americans will suffer its consequences.

If Mr. Bush is truly concerned about spending, he would bring home our best and brightest from that overseas disaster starting today, now.

I've struggled with how to feel about this for a long time, but Mr. Zakaria got it right in this week's Newsweek. The Iraqi leaders won't start getting it together until faced with the real threat of our troops leaving them to face that mess alone.

It's time to make them face the reality of their own corruption and favoritism. This administration "broke" the country, but our armies can't fix it. The Iraqi leaders have to face reality and do the hard work themselves.

The most striking irony I find in Mr. Bush's disjointed remarks is the charge that congress "would substitute the judgment of politicians in Washington for that of our generals on the ground." it's no more than he has done for the last five years personaly or by proxy through Rumsfield, come to think of it maybe that why our commander-in-chief is a civilian politician and not a military junta - though as for military experience I'll bet there are more congressmen and senators with more active duty military experience than our commander-in-chief has, even if you count the junket in the National Guard that his dad had LLoyd Bentson get him.

However, the remarks about the size of the tax increase are almost as ironic - they wouldn't be needed if he hadn't bought the election by pandering to his backers with tax cuts, embarking on an war effort funded with borrowed money, and failing to address long standing problems in those "entitlement" programs that care for our least powerful citizens - those that his tax breaks just don't reach so they can't buy their vote - I suppose he makes a disitnction between Veterans's benefits/hospitals and other entitlement programs - though he has not bothered to make either his concern unless he was forced to do so.

He's a real embarassment to our party and our country. I sure hope SMU get his presidential library, I'd hate to see it on the Texas A&M campus.

Bush does not like timetables? Ok, let us ask Iraqis (ordinary
Iraqis, not the unpopular government) what do they think
about the presence of American troops on their soil.
If a solid majority of them want American troops to stay
our soldiers should stay in Iraq. However, if they do not think this way the presence of American troops in Iraq is meaningless and they should come back as soon as possible.

Ted Steven's Bridge to Nowhere would have cost us $230 million. At that time, Bush said the Democrats were stalling progress and refusing to give aid to our troops.

Democrats want a bill that has decidedly less, most likely (Bush says BILLIONS, only gives examples of maybe $100 million) and this is horrible pork spending that is going to destroy our economy and set us back to the Ice Age.

So why was Teddy's ONE bridge so vital?

Why is the billions Democrats want to spend on real projects not worth passing the bill? Because if it isn't vetoed, Bush can't keep this going on. For the first time, he will have to consider ending this and returning back to what he was before 9/11 -- a useless mockery of the President.

Without his precious war, George W. Bush only has his failures left to cling to. No more noble war.

Pork definitely needs to stop but Bush is nothing more than a hypocrite if he thinks he can pretend he is not the largest porker of them all.

The president is acting like a spoiled brat, forgiving expenses for conservative pet projects but attacking expenses designed to help working farmers and blue collar lower class people get by. Shame on him.

Greeting,
I was not around then, but I am aware of the vast amount of resources that were raised for war bond drives during the second World War.
The town where I live was the home to Chauncey Bottum, whom for his "most notable accomplishment" in support of the War effort sold $53,000,00 worth of bonds. He was heralded with special recognition by President Roosevelt for his volunteer effort.
Perhaps the liberal representatives would become aware of the support the American men and women in uniform actually have.

A retired military officer is not allowed to use their rank in commercial ventures. LCol Dimwit has chosen to do so in a commercial, the Democrat response.

The Constitution requires the Congress to fund a military. The Commander in Chief is the President. Due to the wisdom of our founding fathers both the Congressand the judiciary ARE NOT in the chain of command. SO, to our Congress assembled, you must remove any reference to deployment.

The 25% pork on top of the funding the bill is an outrageous price for a few votes.

This congress is rapidly becoming the most contemptible in our history.

Surely these are not the same Democrats that are all worked up about repealing an unconstitutional law in DC and are demanding a clean bill for an unconstitutional representative for the District of Columbia.

I love free speech. This a great forum. I see some very consistent messages from Republicans. Mostly that they believe that getting out of Iraq means "giving in to terrorism". I say support the troops and bring them home from this madness! Saddam is dead and it's a fact he had no ties to Al-Qaeda. There were no weapons of mass destruction either. Now we're four years into this mess and our president has the nerve to begin a speech with the words, "I like peanuts as much as the next guy,''. I thought it was an April Fool's joke!

Republican or Democrat, I bet we can all agree that if George Bush were an employee in your company you'd fire him for gross negligence!

I'm just angry and embarrassed by what a pack of lazy cowards we all have been. Our national honor is almost fatally diminished at this point. Let's not kid ourselves as to the blame. This is a Democracy. WE allowed the spoiled brat, callow, smirking dullard fratboy son of a multi-millionaire to become OUR PRESIDENT. What did we expect, service and statecraft? SHAME ON ALL OF US.

According to Mothers Against Illegal Immigrants, more than 48,000 Americans have been killed since 9/11 by illegal immigrants.

While we could have done much better with supporting our troops with better weapons of war, the number of troops killed in the Iraq war is NOTHING compared to the slaughtering of innocent Americans in their homes, businesses, and streets.

Illegals pay into social security, but can't take said money out. Since past Congresses have left nothing in the account but an IOU, making illegals legal would add more problems to social security and threaten our economy. Therefore, illegals will never become legal because...well, the neighborhood is already gone.

Be a TRUE democrat. Why let them nickel-and-dime you to death? Send them your entire paycheck.

Warm all of our hearts!

John... You must have had a Texas public education or maybe a Harvard Education.

The attack came from other arab countries... NOT IRAQ!!!! If Osama is the who we are after, again we are in the wrong country.

I do want the responsible parties heads on a silver platter. But we are two countries west of where we need to be. Maybe AFGANISTAN? or Better yet, Pakistan!!!!

You want pork!!! How about US Peso's going to Pakistan.... Bush supports the ones who did it to us.... Think about it...

To finish... We are NOT at war!!! I want to see the declaration of war. We are not selling war bonds to finance the war, or do we ration for the war effort. The middle class will eat this one....

Some of the comments on this thread I dismiss as I would the sound of traffic. Following your political GPS can lead you to make a right hand turn into a lake. Pork in this particular bill is ridiculous. Regardless of pork, a timeline for withdrawal is irresponsible, dangerous and negligent. Allowing this Iranian and Syrian sanctioned insurgency to ravage Iraq, without resistance is second only to sponsoring the insurgency ourselves. If you see a man drowning and do not help him, you are culpable in his drowning. Mistakes HAVE been made in Iraq.

The President has admitted failures and mis-steps. This does not justify surrender. It certainly would make for a snazzy election year platform for the Democratic Party, but would not serve our nation's interests. I am in Iraq and I have been here for 6 months. I will return again and again because it DOES equate to the safety of my family.

Anyone who believes that this insurgency is not backed by Iran needs to turn off CNN and read from Fox News, Reuters, and the BBC. There is an agenda in play. Several, in fact. Resist being herded like sheep. Analyze the motives.

Your President is leading you and TELLING you his agenda. You simply cannot stomach the burden. If this bill is enacted "as is" then our nation is destined for destruction. Support the veto and support the troops.

U.S.M.C.

I'd rather have 75 million dollars of tax money go toward some stupid earmark for peanuts than to have to spend 177 million per day on inpspiring future enemies of the US to dedicate their lives to ending ours - by destroying their countries, families, and sense of independence. There's no excuse to stay there.

However bad Saddam was for Iraq, bush is much, much worse. If we don't get out, it's only a matter of time before the good countries of the world unite to get us out forcibly.

It is reported during the past 5 years, Bush signed bills containing over 13, 500 pork projects costing American Tax payers over 100 billion dollars. Ye,s the Democrats should have shown restraint with their pork barrels.

Bush complaining about pork sound ridiculous.

I am still amazed at the Republican attempts to make this a win/lose situation in Iraq. This isn't a ball game, no matter what the outcome we can neither win or lose. The final tally will only be in American dead, our sons and daughters who were sacrificed by a man who was virtually a dictator for six years. That time is past, its time for the Democrats to step up and stem the flow of American blood that is pooling in Iraq.

#1 - If my memory serves me correctly, it was the clinton administration who cut defense spending and down-scaled the armed forces across the board; So why point the finger at the current administration.

#2 - Obviously the the good Lt Col. has forgotten the core values that are learned in the military; and has abandoned his post for some political agenda no doubt.

#3 - Peanut Farmers dont fight wars, soldiers do. Leave the peanut farmers out of this!!

I say we start mailing packages of peanuts to the WH and to Congress. NOW.

Both of the deadlines that the House and Senate have in their bills give the military and the Iraqis at least a year to prepare for the removal of U.S. troops. This should allow for an orderly process, given competent leadership. As for those who write that Iran wins if we pull out or if we don't - Mr. Bush and Co. should have thought of that before they decided to start this unnecessary fiasco. Any analysis that even nicked the surface would have made that a glaring possibility, and a likely probability. People who advocate a nuclear strike are just plain old fools. Killing always makes more killing, period, especially when your target is a fierce and proud people who's awareness of history far surpasses that of all but a handful of Americans. I am amazed by the roughness of the hatred for their fellow Americans who now run the Congress that many of the poster's express. Who needs enemies with fellow Americans like these. Substituting nasty names for careful analysis is what got us in the mess we are currently in. It is time to ease ourselves out of this situation in a planned and rational way, and prepare for the Iraqis to run Iraq fully. What they do after that point is up to them. They are an intelligent and resourceful people. Let them rebuild without the interference of our companies and permanent American miitary bases.

Guns and butter...or peanuts. The President has rightly exposed the Democrats.

"Awww..... NUTS" to "NUT" lovers would ya?

Money is only paper. However, have you tried our Hail-iburgers?

Love, the LUNATICS

(LABOR UNION for Neocons And Torturing Industrialist Cartel Syndicates)

Thank you, Albert Schwartz. I think it is telling that no one talks about what the Iraqis want. We are so arrogant. No wonder we are despised.

I bet if the pork included "pretzels" instead of "peanuts", Dumbya would have seen no problem.

I feel that America has not won an war since 1945 and will not never win again. Because when we dropped the bomb on Japan we have felt really guilty of all the death and destruction this caused. For this reason we want a 30 second war now if the president's father and the United Nations would have finished the Gulf War and President Clinton would not have cut Military spending to help balance the budget things would be different now. I do not care about party affiliation only be a producer and make a difference in America for the World. Please realize people we went in to finish a war that was started by the United Nations and Iraq violated terms of the cease fire so it was right to go there. This Country was not built on surrendering to our enemy but if we set a time table that means we have no backbone and the enemy will wait till we are gone and take over. History is repeating itself again the politicians are running the war not our military. Remember one thing Mr. Bush and his administration must be doing something right there has not been a 9-12!!!!!! Hang in there America no matter what party you are we are still a great Blessed country and a great people so hang in there and lets support our troops and conme together as one. Thank the troops for our freedom!!!!!!!!!!!

Vince W. of Irvine CA speaks of the bleeding heart liberal democrats who want the war to end now. If Mr. Vince W. were to jog his memory, he might start to wonder if the war should have been started in the first place.

I would ask Mr. Vince W. "WHERE ARE THE WMDs that motivated the Bush team to go to war"? WMDs were the reason Mr. Bush gave the nation for going to war. Is the reason upon which this war was started true or false?

And there was fallout from the search for WMDs. A diplomat was sent a "hunting" for WMDs. He may have thought there were two possible outcomes to his search. Either he would find something or he would not find anything.

It looks like the Bush team was expecting option number one but the diplomat returned with option number two. Were the sins of the husband visited upon the wife? Is chivalry dead? You bet!

Valerie Plame was watching her front for "hostile fire" but she failed to watch her back for "friendly fire". Yep, I said friendly fire. This means the fire did not come from a nation hostile to the United States of America. It came from the United States of America. A political party, seemingly put its interest above that of the United States of American.

Nobody never found WMDs. Hopefully you will never be "hoodwinked" into spending your resources on something that could be described as "bogus". But if you did, you may be able to seek redress in a court of law.

Benchmarks in Iraq could'nt be more redundant at this point considering the fact that the Iraqi security situation is hugely improving on a daily basis. The democrat abortionist in Congress know that Iraq is improving, the dems are in a last ditch effort to try to get U.S. Troops to suffer and then retreat, to give the false-appearance that Republicans are wrong, which they know would thrust the region into a killzone of lawlessness where good Law Enforcing Iraqi Police would become homicide victims without the supplemental aid of U.S. Troops. The democrats in Congress are happy to kill millions and millions of Innocent American Babies in their mother's wombs, so they don't mind one bit the deaths of all Iraqis, they just want votes and praises. I could go on and on, from alot of angles and viewpoints that all conclude at democrats being un-Patriotic traitors that provide comfort to U.S. enemies perpetually.

Peanuts is peanuts compared to the present human toll and current and future economic hardship you have put on this country, George. You are the absolute worst failure of a leader this country has had to endure. How do we justify your stupidity, and the stupidity of those who voted for you (TWICE!), to our children. Impeachment would be too easy of a way out for you. You deserve nothing less than the capital punishment you so readily approved during your reign over Texas.

Texans: How did you allow such idiocy to ever occur?

The vast majority of the posters that blame Bush for everything should look back to the previous administration and see where todays problems stem from.
The reason there was not sufficent body armor or armored humvees is because B.J.clinton cut the military budget in half during his term.
The U.S.A. was attacked at home and abroad under Clinton,but he did nothing except talk tuff and check out his poll numbers.
Clinton and Madeleine Not-to-Bright gave North Korea all the tools they needed to buid a nuclear bomb,of course making them promise they wouldn't....they did.
They also gave China the technology to guide their missles straight.
Clinton failed at every attempt to defend this nation and it all got dumped into Bush's lap,so think about that and you'll see who's really to blame for today's mess.
Paulo
P.S. And B.J.Clinton had 8-12 chances to take out Osama,but he failed at that too.

Impeachment is the only answer. Either Bush and Cheney go or the world will.

There is little doubt that GWB and his hawkish cronies invaded Iraq as a war of choice, not necessity, and selling ot to the American Public by as having been sanctioned by our Intelligence Services, when they had not been. There is little doubt about Bush's personal agenda - imposing American Supremecy and reaping the monetary rewards of his corporate friends in business (the oil and gas, pharaceutical industries, and Cheney's Haliburton pals.

Between them, they have disgraced America and made us the most hated nation in the world.

I believe that a US government official lying to the American public, with the intent to start a war, should be considered VERY high treason. Impeacyhment should only be a very first baby step in the criminal proceeding brought against them.

Posted by: Begeberg | Mar 31, 2007 3:34:24 PM
"...Wake up folks and realize the world will only be safe if we show the willingness to force peace thru the projection of power and the willingness to use it..."

The world will only be safe if we show the willingness to force peace thru the projection of power?

Jesus!!!

I can't believe Bud Lang said that whole thing. He said "Ms Pelosi and Harry Reed is at the least disgraceful and at times borders on treason".

Neo-cons love to define the word "treason". A basic attribute of the neo-cons definition of treason requires the democratic party.

It does not matter if the democrats never put secret prisons on other country's territory. It does not matter if the democrats never broke Americas laws by secretly spying on Americans without a court order. It does not matter if the Democrats never tricked its nation into going into a war. It does not matter if the Democrats never revealed the identity of a CIA operative. It does not matter if the Democrats were elected by the electorate. It does not matter that the Democrats never boasted of "standing shoulder to shoulder" with the President. It does not matter that America, once again, has three distinct branches of government - each offering checks and balances.

There is a laundry list of Republican misbehavior. America got tired of it. Got tired of being called "fascist sympathizers", got tired of being told to "back off", got tired of being ignored by elected representatives who behaved as annointed/crowned royalty.

And the electorate still has a move afoot to use the "T" word in a document spelling out articles of impeachment. But perhaps, much to your dismay, the target is the Republican party.

The Democrats should call Bush on this and remove the peanut famer stuff- then what's he going to do? He just told Americans he's going to veto a $120 BILLION DOLLAR spending bill for our troops because $75 million of it will get into the hands of America's farmers.

They really need to call his bluff- we all know this isn't about the pork in the bill; Bush has been signing pork-laden spending bills his entire presidency.

OK, Politicians are all for themselves, we the people are a means to get them more money and power.
Tough jobs take tough people which make them unpopular, fighting is not popular and of course "we the people" are always looking for the popular way because it's the easiest way.
Islam extremists are not going to let the USA exist as a free country. We either fight now while we can or our future generation will be reading history in a different language.
There is no right way to fight a peacekeeping war, it's not popular, it's tough and we need to support our troops because to a man and woman they support what they are doing to inch along some form of democracy in Iraq. It is a key to our future freedom.
Mr. President, you have a tough job, you are doing your best at a peacekeeping war, there are a lot of proud Americans because you are a tough leader, there are always detractors for unpopular events, they are usually well behind the lines or in politics.

The liberals will do anything to bring about failure, I cannot believe the brainwashed people on hear, you will be the same people doing the blaming and finger pointing when the IED's and car bombs are going off over here, you dont think it can happen? The only reason we have not been hit again is they know the people will get mad again and maybe have some sort of pride about this country, right now there is very little pride coming from americans, The terrorist are not just going to go away, their plan is to wipe us from the face of the earth why cant you people see that? and when I think of peanuts I think of the biggest pansie of them all.

Mr Bush is a hypocrite and a failed leader. Peanuts or no peanuts. Keep supporting him if you like 20%ers. His place in history is secure. Debacle, failure, fiasco. Bring em home!!!

When the full record is finally uncovered and written, it will be shown that the president, his cadre of tax-cutting, legal rights-gutting, Terry Schiavo- interfering lunatics have cost this country enough to put every peanut farmer, Walmart checkouter, and injured soldier in a luxury condo on Key Biscaye

If he doesn't like pork, he should never have been a Republican.

I believe we should not be in Iraq. Knowing that someones son or daughter is in harms way in the name of our country and we are not doing everything we can to ensure their safety until they come home is appauling. Simple as that.

I guess that a secure and safe food chain is NOT a priority to the President. Or a repaired city of New Orleans, I see a pattern here. He cares more about a War that only kills people and wants nothing to do with helping AMERICANS at home.

BUSH IS ACTING AS ARGENTINIAN GENERAL GALTIERI IN MALVINAS´WAR.

BUSH IS ACTING AS ARGENTINIAN GENERAL GALTIERI IN MALVINAS´WAR.

Once again the incompetence of President Bush is rearing its ugly head. He has proven his inablility to lead far too many times; let me list a few: The War in Iraq which was a war of choice was enter ed into without proper planning for the time after The Bathh Party was no more; no thought was given to the Sectarian crisis between the Shia and Sunni and it could spread and completely cause a meltdown in the Middle East and we have no way to control it; the completely hideous lack of Federal response to Katrina and the continuing crisis that followed; his drug plan for Social Security that has made it impossible for the near poor and lower middle class to afford or simply get the drugs they need.
(On a personal note my wife had breast cancer and the only cancer drug that worked for her caused her to hit the Medicare Drug care donut hole (more like the Grand Canyon) last May. She had to go to a substitute drug and her cancer returned and had metastasized and spread to her liver and a lung as of January. She can not be cured and will be on weekly chemo injections for as long as she can.)
Mr Bush and his administration have been the very epitome of incompetence and I do not trust him to lead our country, to fight our wars, nor would I trust him to bag my groceries. It is time for he and Mr Cheney to resign or be impeached!!!

Brent

it's surprising how many people still support and follow the president. i imagine that in order for some of these people to be swayed they would have to personally see bush shooting a soldier to test the (lack of) body armor strangle a baby and kick a single mother out of her home. i guess even then some of these die hard bush fans would find a way to support the presidents actions. you know what they say, where custom reigns, thought is unnecessary.

"the good thing about this president is that he believes the same thing on wednesday that he did on mondy. No matter what happened on teusday."

---Stephen Colbert at the white house corespondents dinner

enough is enough. corruption, lieing, cheating stealing, incompetance, deception, chenney...this administration is by far the worst of the 20th and 21st centuries. how people can still support him is beyond me.

Comments are not posted immediately. We review them first in an effort to remove foul language, commercial messages, irrelevancies and unfair attacks. Thank you for your patience.

we had patience with Hitler.

we had patience with Gobbles.

we had patience with Stalin.

we had patience with Sadam.

NOW YOU ARE ASKING FOR OUR Patience!

AS WELL AS HILLERY, UBOMMBA, KERRY, TEDDY et al,

including PILL-LOUSY!

THE "LIB CONTROLED" WORLD REALY OFFERS GREAT

CHOICES.

Posted by: DEL ACKLEY | Mar 31, 2007 3:25:31 PM

Mr. Del I agree 100% maybe we should add the Dem party to the people we need to be "patient" with so they can DESTROY our way of life.

I'd like to see a clause added to the House/Senate Rules about amendments to bills being germane to the content of the bills. It will never happen, because then Byrd can't get an oil refinery in West Virginia, or Stevens can't get a highway to nowhere in Alaska, but that alone would be more than enough to curtail 90% of all pork barrel legislation.

All,
Everyone seems to be kind of ignorant about this bill. First of all it's timetable is non-binding. Since the timetable is non-binding it can simply be ignored by Bush it's just a message from the representatives of the majority of Americans. So if he vetoes it, it is simply political.

As I am sure you learned in high school civics that the president controls the military. All this bill really does is say that congress will not fund any further increase in troop levels but fully funds the Presidents current requests. It also asks the president (also non-binding) to report on progress in handing the govt over to the people of Iraq. We need a controlled build down in Iraq. Neither party expects to ever completely leave.

Everyone should also know that the money for Iraq war is being borrowed and will have to repaid by American tax payers with interest. There is no free lunch. It may also be of interest that we have become a debtor nation and our biggest creditor is China. So it's kind of incredulous for Bush to talk about tax and spend.

We all want the best solution unfortunately Bush is more interested in dividing us than speaking truthfully to us as FDR did. Not to infer this is a declared war like WWII it's not. We were never attacked by Iraq. Saddam was a horrible dictator supported by Carter, Regan and Bush I because he was secular (opposed islamic govt) and he was scared of Iran. That is why he pretended to have WMD.

The real threat is Iran which is rapidly moving towards a nuclear arsenal. Iran knows we have over extended our military and our options are limited. Our current Iraq policy is allowing our real enemies to become very powerful. As far as terrorism is concerned our own intelligence tells us the war is making more terrorists not fewer. Too put it simply so white trash Repubs and Jarheads can understand: It is increasing the likelihood of another 911 not reducing it. If we were to have a frivolous war for oil Venezuela would have been a much better target. Duh.

Also this war has lowered respect for America in the rest of the world. Remember it was the Allies that won WWII not just the USA. We now ignore the Geneva convention, have secret torture prison and on and on.

It's time for a controlled hand over to the Iraqi Govt over the next year or two. It's time the US Army stops playing policeman for the Iraqi Govt. It they can't handle it they are going to fall anyway and we can put a Sunni dictator in charge like we did last time. We know that works.

"Wow. Peanuts or War? I says Peanuts ya'll Peanuts won't kill ya. Peanuts don't cost as much and Peanuts won't lie about it's mission or intentions. Pork for Peace ; Peanuts for Peace!!
Posted by: Gerald Shields | Mar 31, 2007 11:45:18 AM"

Peanuts do kill. Just ask anybody with an allergy to nuts. LOL

I agree with Desert Eagle. I wish we could set all you whiners, Bush bashers, and give up queens outside the light of our campfires and oh so much nearer the Islamofacsist terrorists for a few short days. You would become wiser, the ones of you who survived, and consequently much better Americans like your GrandFathers...

Semper Fi

im glad we have a president who has the courage to do what he needs to do, and not what we think he should do.

Bush talks about tax cuts. Who does he think he is kidding? The costs of this war will be a tax on all our children for generations.

Bush talks about tax cuts. Who does he think he is kidding? The costs of this war will be a tax on all our children for generations.

its so funny how when the Republicans lead the house and senate, Bush didn't have any problem with all the pork, but low and behold the dems throw in some and man o man that's a bad thing!

Bush's top strategist says "Kerry was right":

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/washington/01adviser.html?hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1175368218-cyyjPeRPtD7iIVo8lP6hOw

I just completed 26 years of decorated military service and feel qualified in saying that defense funding is needed for the security and safety of this country. However, when unrelated projects are sneaked into these requests, then this reckless and self-serving approach does disservice to the public at-large and to the military specifically. Congress, stop talking out the sides of your mouths and present a straight-forward bill. Then there won't be any doubts about where the President and Congress stand on supporting our military defense.

It's sad to see everyone so enbittered about the war. And the cause of all this of course is President Bush and his terrible handling of the war in Iraq. However, I think he has a point in saying that backing out of the war now will essentially amount to creating a safe haven for terrorists(and in saying that 'pork is bad,' though the republicans are no less guilty of it than the democrats.) On the other hand, like Somalia, Iraq may become a place of needless bloodshed for our troops.
The problem here is that our troops are not the remedy to the conflict in Iraq, but only a painkiller to it. Our troops may be the remedy against terrorism, but what we are seeing in Iraq is not terrorism but more sectarian civil war. Our troops may be able to prevent some violence but they can never be the solution to the current violence in Iraq.
What we need is a more diplomatic, talk-based solution 'backed' by the military. Guns and forced kisses. We have to make the sunis and the shiites talk. And we have to weaken the religious leaders who are inciting all the violence.
It's time the President admiited his failures and started thinking about the solution to all of this instead of being all stubborn and blaming democrats for everything. The democrats' proposal may turn out to be harmful to the country in the end. However at least the democrats have recognized the dead end in Iraq and have proposed something they believe will change it. What Bush needs to do is mold a new, more pragmatic strategy in Iraq over a couple of 'peanuts' with his advisers, and convince us that his plan will work.

You have to wonder what the liberal's agenda really is. Last fall they promised us, the voters, cooperation across the aisle in Congress, no more earmarks or pork in future budgets, ethical politicians, balanced budgets, support for the troops risking their lives for the American people, etc, etc, etc.

What do we have to show for electing them?

Cooperation, yeah! Clinton fires a whole bunch of lawyers because they aren't Democrats and it's OK. Bush fires a few who aren't aggressively pursuing voter fraud cases like he promised and the liberals spend thousands of hours bad mouthing him when they could be putting that time to better use fixing the things we elected them to fix like Social Security and Health Care (problem is I don't think they have any ideas how to fix these things so all they do is bad mouth anything that's proposed because it's safer politically). We continue to have the same old budget earmarks but the only difference is that now the liberals keep them hidden from the public and we have more pork in this budget than any of us can afford. The liberal congressman who took bribes and kept the money in his freezer is still running around loose representing his district and a balanced budget isn't going to happen in the near future unless our taxes go up big time. Finally, the liberals publicly saying they support our troops while they give the enemy a vote of confidence with their goofy theatrics is bordering on treason in my book and the American People should be ashamed of themselves for accepting this type of rhetoric on the part of their elected officials.

I think that we made a big mistake by electing these liberals to the majority in both houses last fall and that as bad as the situation in Iraq is now, it's going to get a heck of a lot worse if the current meddling by these liberals continues. As it stands now, they don't have any more ideas on how to win the war in Iraq than they ever did and they don't have the courage of their convictions to end the conflict because they don't have the courage to accept responsibility for their actions. But what's new?

A big THANKS to our Canadian neighbor for spelling out the situation with some perspective and candor. Unfortunately, we Americans are basically ignorant of history and are also too trusting in what our leaders tell us, because we have been so fortunate to live in this rich and unscarred land. We citizens of this very young country are like children, we still have to learn the hard facts of life, politics, power, and the kind of greed that destroys anything that gets in its way. Sadly, GWB has set us on the one-way path toward learning these bitter lessons by the use of blatent lies, which we gullibly fell for hook, line and sinker, and all for the purpose of enriching his cronies and grabbing a permanent stake in the oil riches of the middle east.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I read comments that are mere playbacks of the Bush lines, like "the terror will come here if we don't stop it there" and "Sadam Hussein had to be stopped" not to mention the thousands of repeats of "9/11" that got interjected into EVERY issue he wanted to score points on... All those party lines just sicken me when I hear them out of the mouths of citizens who have been duped, having been relieved of the effort of thinking for themselves. Is it possible people are THAT STUPID, to just lay down on the train tracks with the train in full sight, just because George W. Bush tells them to? Not to mention willingly taking their own sons and daughters along with them? In comments like these, it makes me want to puke to see GWB's lies repeated yet again, like "what the Democrats really want", etc. At this late date, when so much more truth about the war has come out, yet people have learned NOTHING. Where have they been living the past 4+ years? Under a bushel basket?

At least, AT LEAST, we now have a Congress who heard our voice and is trying its best to carry out our wishes. This is SO RARE, and yet this is the sole reason it exists. They are OUR REPRESENTATIVES.

Of course it would be better if there were no so-called pork, but here again, where were the folks complaining about it during the previous years of Bush's reign? Did they object this loudly to the handouts given to mostly those who did not need them, at the expense of the poor and middle class? Right or wrong, the way things get done by our government is by commerce - buying favors, cashing in chits, etcs. I'll vote for your budget if you bail out my peanut farmers, etc. That is how Pelosi got the budget through and the only way she could have gotten it through, but it's the Republicans who perfected this to an art form. Who could argue with that?

But you'll notice, Mr. Bush says it is the entitlement programs enlarging the deficit. Naturally, it just COULD NOT BE his tax cuts for the rich, now could it? It could not be this WAR, NOW COULD IT?? How many million or billion PER WEEK goes there?

This war cost is NOT SHOWN in the budget, can you believe that?? Talk about deceptive financial reporting, this really takes the cake. Now why would the Bushies take this approach if this war was so essential to the very survival of America, then what is there to hide about publishing the cost of it so all citizens could know and understand the true financial cost of it? After all WE are paying for it, in money and lives, HE CERTAINLY ISN'T. During WWII, citizens were more than glad to scrimp and be rationed etc., to support the war effort. Can we not be trusted to do the same thing here? No, we have to essentially be lied to again, by keeping this absolutely paramount information off the front page as much as humanly possible. These costs are incredibly huge! Even a country as rich as ours has limits! And breaking us financially is no doubt even more important to our enemies, than militarily. In that they are succeeding. This war spending cannot go on forever. And this man has the GALL to say it is Social Security that is building the deficit, NOT the war, NOT the tax cuts for the rich. No, it is the modest, promised subsistence that 75% of our elderly depend on for their basic living expenses and health care that has to be cut. These are folks who can't just work a few hours overtime to make it up. Take it from them! What can they do about it?

The final straw on this is that, this is a war that was totally UNNECESSARY. We have gained NOTHING, and lost SO MUCH of our treasure, by this horrible war.

And what we all need to be aware of is that his lies continue. What keeping the war going REALLY means to George W. Bush has to do only with HIMSELF, not the welfare of America. On the contrary. He does not want to end his term still trapped in this quagmire and go down in history as the disastrous president that he is. At this point he is clinging to the hope he can wrap it up in some acceptable way before he leaves. Leaving it for the next president, and I imagine, having to watch it continue on TV every night, would be too much. He would get blamed on a daily basis for the rest of his life, which he richly deserves. No, he wants to "shoot his wad", regardless of what the country thinks, solely to patch up his name for history, at this late date. Never mind how many more kids have to die to buy this for him or how it ruins us economically. The rich don't worry about MONEY!

Wake up, citizens! Open your eyes. See this loser for who he really is. Refuse to follow him like sheep. Even worse horrors await if we continue to consent to what this man has done and is doing.

Peanut money doesn't worry me. What does worry me is a Messianic president who thinks he is the only branch of government that matters. It is Congress' job to oversee spending, and to oversee war. This war was never necessary. It was based on lies and, if Bush has his way, it will go on forever. I'm sick of our soldiers dying and I want someone who is sane overseeing this war. Bush is clearly not sane.

On behalf of the children of world war II veterans. We strongly suppot the President George W. Bush on his supplemental budget for the american troops on Iraq. We hope that the supplemental bill will be granted soon...

Mabuhay ka President George Bush

All these whinners and libs should come over here in Iraq and see for themselves what's really happening. Blaming Mr Bush about this scenario is absolutely ridiculos. And those demos they don't have no clue what really happening. They pretend to care for the troops stationed here is a BS. All they care is themselves being elected and stay in office and collect Uncle Sam welfare check. Reed and Pelosi check the middle east map and analyze where is Iraq, Iran and Syria. Hope you can read map. Now these 2 countries if we pullout you are giving Iraq to these 2 countries in a silver platter and if that happens the world economy will be in chaos. Thanks Demos/whinners/Liberals.

Hey BigDumbWhiteGuy,

Consider this: The Sunnis & Shi'as have NOT been fighting for 2000 years. To make that statement would imply that we've been living in the year 2632 or give a few more years. Not to mention that Sunni & Shi'a have lived peacefully side by side in Iraq for hundreds of years with the worst violence between these two particular factions only causing a break in the Ummah over a period of a few hundred years from the mid 700 BCE's to the early 900BCE's. Any other violence you see between the two factions can as easily be attributed to political and economic splits in nations and tribes as can be attributed to inter-sect violence.

DON'T LISTEN TO THE PUNDITS; It's not nearly as simple as Sunni/Shi'a, it's WAY more complex. Please don't venture guesses until you know a bit more about the situation. I promise you that these sorts of guesses are what cause huge political instability and war, not solve it.

So let's get to the heart of the matter: Your idea of bombing Iraq and Iran until the fighing factions and ruling parties "get along" is flawed. First of all, violence simply begat violence. It's a simple observation, and if you stop to think through EVERY MAJOR COMBAT OPERATION IN HISTORY, the pattern is clear. We can't export ideology on a bomb.

So what is/are the solution(s)? I have no idea. Even the people from both the left, right and center with Ph.D's in Middle Eastern Studies don't know. They *might* have informed estimations, and that's about all. The people on the ground (US/Iraqi soldiers and civilians) don't know.

So, what in the world makes you a credible source?

Thanks,

Dan Rohan

Our country is in sad shape. After reading all these comments, I think we are in a civil war here in America but have not started shooting bullets yet.
God Help Us

First: It wasn't only the US that thought Iraq had WMDs, most of our allies (and others) thought the same based on his previous use of them.
Second: The President can't start a war! He can only ask Congress to authorize one; which they did.
Third: NO company was given "No Bid" contracts and never are. Bids are requested by government during times of peace as contigency plans. The winer of those bids gets the contract during war. Was there malfeasance; maybe. Just plan stupidty; probably. And last, did ANY of you read the first paragraph in the President's speach? The concern was with limitations on the power of the Commander and Chief. The attachments to the "supplementary funding bill" are probably not constitutional as they undermine the President's power as Commander and Chief". TMAA!

Now George, you could give a rats ace about the $40,000 income or the small business owner. What really concerns you when you hear the word TAX is the $34 billion quarterly profit at Exxon Mobil. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall at the Cheney secret energy meetings back in 03. If the war in Iraq was really about democracy and freedom it could be noble, but it's all about oil. Always was and always will be.

Have you heard anything about that fellow Ben Lad... Oh! Bin Ladin, I almost forgot...

I have read the vast majority of comments here and find it striking that so little of the commentators reflect on what is actually going on in the Middle East. There is a play for power taking place that the WORLD cannot afford to allow… which is to eliminate western influence and allow only fundamental Islam to exist.

One writer noted that what is taking place in our government, the haggling, the dissent, is playing into Bin Laden's ideals and he is absolutely point on!

I would however, like to add IRAN to that list. Ahmedinejad is a calculating patient terrorist who has likely studied the strategies of the successful jihadist Bin Laden, and because he has achieved legitimacy... is fueling the fires of extremist propaganda and is doing so with a perceived credibility because he has political position.

Bin Laden can't achieve what he wishes to alone within his lifetime. But with assistance from elected president's (Ahmedinejad) and extremist who kill without any concern for the innocent, they can, and may have (Pelosi's scheduled visit to Syria for instance, has the potential to be very Fonda-esque), found a means of accelerating the process and achieving the means to their end. Through their understanding of our historical distain for American casualties, and the political turmoil that results, they will find America supremely vulnerable to attack, and on a scale unimaginable. It will be gruesome and calculated and will enable them to be victorious. I refer to Bin Laden and Ahmedinejad's desire to command servitude over the US and anyone who disputes their perceived right to be rulers of the world. Their belief is that the reign of Islam over all other peoples of the world is their Godly fate as prophesied by Mohammed, and they care not who dies in the achievement of that end.

And what is happening within our government is exactly what they desire... Congress, the Administration, Republicans, Democrats, are all fighting amongst themselves and dragging the American people and others (based on the comments here) along a course of events that will enable the accomplishment of their extremist/jihadist goals... to establish economic and social chaos in this country and thereby allow them the opportunity to kill Americans at will on their own soil.

The Administration is arrogant, no doubt. They dramatically underestimated the resolve of fundamental extremist to exist in IRAQ. Failure to achieve a decisive victory in IRAQ has caused thousands of lives and billions of dollars. It seems beyond belief.

But know this, the people who have given their lives, while not wishing to die, have done so understanding that their sacrifice is allowing you and I to debate these issues freely and without the fear of retribution or imprisonment. If we fail to recognize the potential of the extreme Islamic fundamentalists to accomplish their goals, then they will win. Not through a decisive military victory, but never the less one wrought with terror and killing just the same. Only it will be on American soil.

I could care less that someone, gets 75 million dollars for some pet pork spending project. And I will be increasingly mystified if Bush vetoes the spending bill. But don’t loose sight of the bigger picture… We cannot leave the Middle East and allow fundamental Islam to grow in power or we will die HERE without any Freedoms.

The money America spends on its friutless effort in Iraq has probably been borrowed from Saudi princes who probably are forced to indirectly fund the food chain that disposses far too many and creates al Qaeda.

All this is funded by the centering of profit from oil extraction from the largest oil fields in the world into just a few hands who then pitch America against their own enemies - the Shiite revolution that would render their power obsolete.

America stepped into a breach that appears to be more chaotic for the intervention. It has stepped into the breach of a war brewing on both sides of it. It needs to shore up Sunni support against its new perceived threat, Iran.

Who is fooling whom? American intervention is an effort to prolong the status quo, history tells us unfathomable power in too few hands is not a stable form of Government.

(expanded upon on my blog: dtrends.org)

why arnt the twins in iraq? why are any of us in iraq? i would honestly prefer saddam as my president than george bush.

Here are some facts:

1) We were attacked on 9/11 by a Saudi named Osama Bin-Laden and his group named Al-Qaeda - they had no connection to Iraq, or at least none has ever been established, after 5 years and millions of dollars spent.

2) Giving up on trying to locate Osama Bin-Laden, president George W. Bush involved us in a 4 year long (so far) war in Iraq, after lying about weapons of mass destruction -- which were never there and consequently never found.

3) So far, there have been 3246 Americans killed in Iraq since the war started.

4) So far, there have been 24314 Americans wounded in Iraq since the war started.

5) The majority of Americans want us out of the war. Most of us accept democratic principles, such as "majority rule". The people whining about "democrats" and "liberals" on this list are a notable exception - people who are so entrenched in cognitive dissonance that they believe it is in America's interest for any number of additional American soldiers to die, and any amount of additional money to be spent, in the vain hope that a country we should never have invaded will suddenly become a hotbed of peace.

Those are some facts.

Admittedly, I expressed those facts in my own way, since I'm bitterly dissapointed in those of you who attack those of us who love our country, yet don't love our president. What's so hard about that to understand?

America is lost and it will not find its way back home until all the poissons that lurk in the mud come out. The truth is, we have ignored the problem for many years - we allowed ourselves to be tricked and lied to by the very people that are supposed to have our best interests at heart. In my 50th Congressional district, the Dukester cools his heels in Federal prison, and what do my neighbors do? They elect another one of the exact same ilk, a lobbyist no less, who has performed EXACTLY like his predecessor in terms of voting record. What does that say about this country? It deserves the reputation it has now because of the actions of people like Bush and Cheney, but add some of the Dems too, because they behave EXACTLY the same way. Our soldiers aren't the only ones that deserve better - we ALL deserve better.
"Now, I'm off to the Doctor for a botox injection so I don't look surprised when George Bush blows up the world..." - MAD TV

People,Stop talking about liberals as though it's some nasty disease .../ Please, all it means is that you ask questions of our leaders they don't like bing asked ... It is not just your right,but, your "obligation" to ask tough questions of our leaders... That was DRILLED into me by my DI back in 68 before I was sent over to Nam for tour 1 of 3.... I'm as patriotic as next guy and I've always voted conservative... but this is just crazy BS... wise up gang... Victory against "TERROR" means Bin Ladens head on a platter... and it ain't happening by digging oil wells in Iraq...oh what the helll... nobody's listening... after all, Anna Nicol is what America cares about.... and why not ???

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." Joseph Goebbels

"...only constant repetition will finally succeed in imprinting an idea on the memory of the crowd." Adolf Hitler

"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." George W. Bush

Some of you are in denial. Please get a clue.

Do peanuts grow in blue states?

George W. Bush... The American Tarek Aziz. Remeber when our troops were riding into Baghdad in tanks and he kept assuring reporters that it was all lies, that they had the upper hand as american tanks drove up behind him.

George is the same way,they are cut from the same cloth, they have the same source. We have been warned by wise men of the past to beware of those who dissemble, that accuse others vociferously of doing the same things they did for decades. The man who swore to protect the constitution above all had no problem in diluting it with 'patriot' act and illegal wiretaps, and subverting FISA, and secret prisons, and torture, and rendition,.... ad infinitum.

To paraphrase Cecil Adams, if BS was corn flakes the president would be General Mills. Why do we have money worries? The Prez's billions of dollars in tax cuts for the rich, along with the half trillion dollars plus that will be flushed on the useless war. Want to know why our infrastructure is falling apart and our country is as internationally respected and admired as Albania? Look no further than the decider himself. To put this in perspective, the crumbling CTA could be completely repaired and expanded for less than 1% of what will be spent on the war, even if we get out in the next six months. The amount already spent on the war would have added nearly 40,000 additional housing units in Chicago alone. And the cost grows by $200 million each and every day. That's the complete Brown Line rebuilding every 3 days. And never forget the thousands of dead and maimed soldiers - a price which can never be repaid by simple coin.

Listen to his speeches. It isn't, as a majority of Americans believe, that he's a complete moron. It is more like he is so arrogant at such a deep level that he doesn't give a crap about explaining anything, and gives his talks to the folks no intellectual investment. So he just sounds like an idiot because he believes we are are dumber than he is.

Bush's claim to have "restrained government spending" is either a lie or the consequence of a diseased mind. His administration's reckless spending over the past few years has had a calmitous affect on our economy and has mortgaged our children's future to provide no-bid contracts to his cronies Halliburton and KBR.

Is he a fool? Or a knave? Or maybe both? The only bright spot in this debacle is that the Republicans are starting to turn on him as well as each other. Hold your breath for the next two years and hope that this petulant child of privilege doesn't start something with Iran.

the president said we must attack iraq because they were a danger to the world--they had no army--no long range missles--no money and no factories to sustain a war--they said iraq had weapons of mass destruction--with no prove--but we attacked anyway.-we had inspectors there to look for any wmd and tell us how weak iraq was if we listened to them--why did iraq not want inspectors to go in before--perhaps they did not want their enemy iran to know how weak they were.

iraq did not cause 911.--why did ben laden cause 911--because we backed the unpopular saudi gov-because we had 50000 troops in what they considered holy land and they wanted to show the arab leaders that were backed by us that were not all powerfull--so instead of using the words good will to go after ben laden we went into iraq-great idea

Its easy to make comments from the cheap seats. I spent 2 tours in Iraq. The to invade Iraq or not is a waste of oxygen. We are there, will continue to be there and there is nothing to do but WIN! Our strong presence over there has and will make a difference in the very near future for the world. Remember when Isreal went to war recently? Think that outcome would have been the same if we were not over there in mass like we are now? Bush 43 can not undo all the boneheaded moves previous administrations have made to include his father. Remember Bosnia? clinton said we would be there 1 year, well we were there for around 10. From my viewpoint I see Iraq being divided like Korea and us in the middle. And if Iran keeps it up you can bet your paycheck before this term is over we will hit them hard and deservedly so. Iran has never been held accountable. I'm so sick and tired of hearing about how our standing in the world is so low. Is our standing higher when we give everyone what they want? We help everyone dang near, who helps us? why does everyone want to be so liked? Because people these days like to take the path of least resistance and feel good about themselves. And heres the newsflash. America will have a presence in Iraq for decades to come, thanks to Iran. This whole withdrawl thing is a farce SO WAKE UP PEOPLE this whole Iraq thing is a product of bad choices being made since the Iran Hostage situation. This current president is taking the heat for everything. and I think he has shown courage and has dealt with all of this like a champion. ALL OF OUR VICTORIES ARE NOT ON THE EVENING NEWS PEOPLE! Victories occur often and no one ever heres about it.
STEADFAST AND LOYAL

1)
War Bonds are a tremendous idea. Let the American people choose how they want to spend their money.

2)
"America's economy is leading the world, with an economic expansion that has produced 42 months of uninterrupted job growth and created more than 7.5 million new jobs."

Exactly what part of this is not true? Where is your proof?

3)
If we win in Iraq, the Democrats lose...

4)
The only time a socialist country works is if you have a huge populace of uneducated peasants/farmers/slaves available that you can force to work for free. Socialism sounds great in theory. In practice, who will be at the top, and who gets to be the slave? Vote Socialist Party (Democrat) & be a slave! You won't have to worry about anything again!

I'm certain I will be blasted off the face of the earth, have the FBI, CIA, and some other agencies on doorstep but I just can't help myself. I'm not saying anyone is now, was, or will be a member of the party represented by the person who made this quote at the end of this post, it just seems to fit whats going on in America -- and it's used by both parties. People in this country need to learn to think for themselves not feed their brains with the fodder dished out by politicians.

My father fought in WWII, I wasn't alive to see it, but from all I've read you can't compare WWII or Korea to Iraq. As for the possibility of continued attacks by Al Qaeda, they don't have to be massive strokes to undermine our economy, how about continued outbreaks of E-coli, poisoned pet food, sudden sabre rattling by Iran -- caused oil prices to jump and stay up didn't it, anything that attacks the American economy if fair game.

In my humble opinion they have us right where they want us, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IT HINT AT ANOTHER ATTACK and the economy goes nuts. Small attacks do more damage than large attacks. People become afraid to buy certain products and companies go broke. How much inconvenience and money have extra security measures cost the American economy.

We, as a nation, need to take care of business at home and defend ourselves by being a strong unified nation again. The constant bickering and infighting does the obvious -- DIVIDE AND CONQUER.

"Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger."
Hermann Goering
Source: The Nuremberg Trials

Now that I've had my say, blast away.

We lost the war during the Clinton administration. Americans need to accept sharia and islam. Then there will be peace, all that is needed is for everyone to accept the Religion Of Peace, or die.

No one can be sure about the future of this supplementary budget bill, but the Democrats do not have enough votes in either house to pass a clean bill with mandatory goals. Republicans had enough power to defeat the non-binding resolutions (with the help of antiwar and prowar Democratic fringes.)
The present bill will come out of conference without spinach aid, but with timetables, probably avoidable by the President if he at the time will certify the necessity. The President will be told that this is the best he can expect. If he vetoes the bill (he will be told) he will play in the hands of the hard-line Murtha-ites (bring them home now!). They will be able to load the replacement bills with a laundry list of mandates and restrictions, each one of which will be death for Democrats to oppose, which will load the bills with maximum charcuterie like 15,000 V-Hulls, huge increases in Veterans bill, no money to be spent on combat foreign mercenaries (i.e. Blackwater), etc., plus offsetting tax increases).
The President will be told if he vetoes this bill there will not be another and he will be impeached. His approval will drop below the magic 33% (it takes 2/3 to impeach and convict)

Petraeus has only a few weeks to show results for the surge, and the troops won't all arrive until June. The Premier is said to have until June to get the four Sunni-pleasing measures (antideBaathifiation, etc), or the US will refuse him further support. al-Sadr is back in town announcing a quit-Iraq campaign, mass murders killing hundreds each week are taking place out of town. If you read all of the Iraq stories every day and think there is any hope of victory you have much better eyesight than I.
My guess, 60-40 --disaster in J une.

Good point by John L. -- all the pork put together is less than 10% of the total for the war, that's right, which means what we're really asking for is fiscal responsibility from the worst American government overspender of all time: President George W. Bush. We're spending half a trillion dollars in expenses for Iraq and he has the audacity to talk about 70 million for peanut farmers?!?!?!
Write your senator and insist that they override the veto. Come on Congress, have some balls for once.

Without effective diplomacy, without true allies that share a border with Iraq, the war their is unwinnable. It's irresponsible to think that a force of less than 200,000 can maintain an occupation in a country the size of California. This administration's policies have only hindered any chance victory. Unless we radically rethink our mid-east policies, no amount of money spent will buy us security. I'm not inclined to believe that this president is ready to radically rethink anything.

Come on folks! When is the Bush Administration going to pull its head out of the sand? They simply rode a wave of frustration after 911 that reflected our anger at the incident, to justify the invasion. After they could not find WMD they tried to tie Iraq to Al Qaeda even when our own intelligence agencies and those of our allies couldn’t substantiate the claims. They just eagerly rode the coattails of 911, calling those among us that questioned the legitimacy of their clams and reasons for the invasion, unpatriotic! When in reality, questioning the motives of our government, is not only the most patriotic and American thing to do, but as our forefathers believed, we are obligated to do so.

Now here we are, years and thousands of lives later, caught in the quagmire.

I believed it before the conflict began, and it has unfortunately come to fruition… The Bush Administration was naive to believe that this conflict was going to end quickly. Sure, the actual overthrow of the old regime was relatively quick and painless, but even a novice political strategist would have recognized that without a comprehensive plan for post conflict Iraq, we would be stuck in the middle of a never-ending sectarian conflict brought about by the power vacuum that would (and did) result.

The Administration should admit its shortcomings instead of playing politics with the Congress. We made a mess, now we need to clean it up. But, we need to make it very clear to the Iraqi people and their government that we will not be there forever. If the people of Iraq want to be respected as a nation, they need to act like one. We will not baby-sit. There is no shame in saying that we are willing to stay and support the establishment of a stable government, but we will leave if no substantial steps have been taken and progress has been made with in a certain time. Setting a timeline is the only way to do it.

# 1.Being a foreiner living in the United States it has always amazed me how odd Americans are.Trust me, if America looses this war, it will not Bush loosing the war alone but America.

#2. No one in the entire planet has more resources to gather information on tactical situations than a sitting US president. Not past president, not the Pope, not the Queen and yes, not even members of Congress.
Do you Americans think that perhaps things might go better if you did not make life soo difficult for your president?

#3. I have not seen any reports of US troops bombing Markets, schools and highways... You can blame the US for not anticipating the mess in Iraq, but you cannot fail in the same breadth to condemn the criminals that are trying to ensure that there is no democracy in Iraq. Would you rather Al Zarqawi or United States

#4. Those that do not agree with me will ignore my post...
oh well.. too bad, America and the world will pay the price for loosing this war. Too bad we (other countries) will probably go down faster than you Americans.

Come on folks! When is the Bush Administration going to pull its head out of the sand? They simply rode a wave of frustration after 911 that reflected our anger at the incident, to justify the invasion. After they could not find WMD they tried to tie Iraq to Al Qaeda even when our own intelligence agencies and those of our allies couldn’t substantiate the claims. They just eagerly rode the coattails of 911, calling those among us that questioned the legitimacy of their clams and reasons for the invasion, unpatriotic! When in reality, questioning the motives of our government, is not only the most patriotic and American thing to do, but as our forefathers believed, we are obligated to do so.

Now here we are, years and thousands of lives later, caught in the quagmire.

I believed it before the conflict began, and it has unfortunately come to fruition… The Bush Administration was naive to believe that this conflict was going to end quickly. Sure, the actual overthrow of the old regime was relatively quick and painless, but even a novice political strategist would have recognized that without a comprehensive plan for post conflict Iraq, we would be stuck in the middle of a never-ending sectarian conflict brought about by the power vacuum that would (and did) result.

The Administration should admit its shortcomings instead of playing politics with the Congress. We made a mess, now we need to clean it up. But, we need to make it very clear to the Iraqi people and their government that we will not be there forever. If the people of Iraq want to be respected as a nation, they need to act like one. We will not baby-sit. There is no shame in saying that we are willing to stay and support the establishment of a stable government, but we will leave if no substantial steps have been taken and progress has been made with in a certain time. Setting a timeline is the only way to do it.

I also served two tours, and I tend to disagree. We will not win the war there. The best we can hope for is a facesaving measure.

Whine! Whine! And Blame! Blame! And Never Once
Honestly Take Responsibility For Your Own Failed
Leadership as Commander in Chief,Liar and Total
Foul Up George W Bush!...Hey San Francisco Looney
Toons Madame Speaker Non Binding Nancy Pelosi Get
Your Arse Back To Washington DC and Put The
Impeachment of President George W Bush and Vice
President Delusional Dick Cheney Back On The Table You Disgusting As Bush Disgrace,Democrat
Loser Pelosi! Furthermore,Playing US Sec Of State
is not in your Job Description as Speaker Idiot
Nancy Pelosi and Condoleezza Rice already has
that job,you braindead San Francisco Mental Midget Loser Non Binding Nancy Pelosi! I Bet The
Gutless Chicago Tribune Censors Never Let This
One In Either! Your Doing A Heck Of A Job Here
Bushie,Dickie,and Nancy!

Have any of the people opposing the war given any thought of what will become of the Middle East if we pull out as they suggest? They are always quick to bash the president for his lack of planning for occupation and rebuilding after the war, but none have stated their plans for the region after we pull out. It’s ok to want to end the war, I want our boys back home as much as anybody, but there has to be steps to do so that will not make things worse for the region or at home. We pulled out of ‘Nam and that region fell into a hell hole. As bad as that was, it remained a local hell hole. What will happen if we pull out of Iraq? If the Middle East falls completely apart it will affect the whole world. The situation is horrible. Maybe we shouldn’t have been in Iraq in the first place, but now that we are there, we cannot just pull out and leave.

On the issue of pork, I think the president did not explain things completely (as usual). After all the pork was added to the bills, the congress and senate still came 4 bill shy of what was requested for war funding. Remember that we are in Afghanistan too. Most Dems do not oppose the Afghanistan campaign, but quietly they are willing to under fund it as well as Iraq. I hate politics.

A lot of conservatives (not true conservatives, mind you, just neocons) posting on this article seem to be going over the same points over and over again, with the same meaningless rhetoric they've been issued by the GOPropaganda Office. Such as "cut-and-run" and "the terrorists will win". And pork, they seem to be awfully worried about pork all of a sudden. They think they are clever by omitting certain facts, such as the nature of the bill being an appropriations bill so it's not just for war spending. And the fact that if another nation set up military operations here these neocons would be bombing them too, just like the Iraqi's they label as "terrorists" so they can feel better about the leader of their party destroying a nation to carry out a personal vendetta. Make that two nations if the provisions set in the "Patriot" Act continue to override and erode the Constitution. I can already hear the Repubs whining back that it's different because we don't have the terrorists here so no one else would have to invade our country. Fine, so if there are no terrorists here then we don't need the NSA and FBI spying on us without justification, do we? The real sickness in this situation is just how deep the neocon capacity for self-delusion really goes. If you are all so gung-ho about fighting the Al-Quaida terrorists then why aren't you behind pulling troops from Iraq to fight in Afghanistan where the terrorists really are? Or for putting pressure on Pakistan to let us in to find Bin Laden and his cronies, since that is where they are hiding? Or would those operations just not be profitable enough for Halliburton?

To the folks that keep spouting off rhetoric of “tax cuts for the rich”, how do you explain the fact that the IRS reports larger than ever revenue AFTER the tax cuts? Nearly everyone is paying a few dollars less in taxes, yet the revenue is growing. How can that be? How can the government charge less yet receive more? It couldn’t be that the economy benefits from the tax cuts, so that more people are employed and more revenue is generated, could it? No, that couldn’t be it. Tax cuts cannot be good for anyone, at least that’s what the Dems say.
It’s fine to dislike the President. Heck, I don’t think I would like to hang out with the guy either, but a few of his policies are working. Be careful of what you criticize. It may just cost you in the end.

Maybe you people should read this again.
Thanks for your words,hope you don't mind the quote.

"Its easy to make comments from the cheap seats. I spent 2 tours in Iraq. The to invade Iraq or not is a waste of oxygen. We are there, will continue to be there and there is nothing to do but WIN! Our strong presence over there has and will make a difference in the very near future for the world. Remember when Isreal went to war recently? Think that outcome would have been the same if we were not over there in mass like we are now? Bush 43 can not undo all the boneheaded moves previous administrations have made to include his father. Remember Bosnia? clinton said we would be there 1 year, well we were there for around 10. From my viewpoint I see Iraq being divided like Korea and us in the middle. And if Iran keeps it up you can bet your paycheck before this term is over we will hit them hard and deservedly so. Iran has never been held accountable. I'm so sick and tired of hearing about how our standing in the world is so low. Is our standing higher when we give everyone what they want? We help everyone dang near, who helps us? why does everyone want to be so liked? Because people these days like to take the path of least resistance and feel good about themselves. And heres the newsflash. America will have a presence in Iraq for decades to come, thanks to Iran. This whole withdrawl thing is a farce SO WAKE UP PEOPLE this whole Iraq thing is a product of bad choices being made since the Iran Hostage situation. This current president is taking the heat for everything. and I think he has shown courage and has dealt with all of this like a champion. ALL OF OUR VICTORIES ARE NOT ON THE EVENING NEWS PEOPLE! Victories occur often and no one ever heres about it.
STEADFAST AND LOYAL

Posted by: SFC Boyd USA retired | Apr 1, 2007 12:22:15 AM"

This isn't a war, it's a conflict. Pork or no pork, call it what it is. Vietnam was a war. This is a conflict. 3 thousand KIA versus 53,000. It's a conflict.

I am glad to see so many people opposed to bush, If you all would have been the majority during the elections maybe this crisis wouldn't have occured. I really find it ridiculous that Clinton was Impeached for a unimportant scandal ,that hurts no one more than him and his family, while we have let bush indirectly kill thousands of soldiers and basically made America one of the most hated country's in the world.

This coming from a 15 year old that has opposed bush since I was 9!

Charlie Pointer said: " This congress is rapidly becoming the most contemptible in our history".

Mr. Pointer did not say "UNETHICAL". It is easier to measure the ethics of congress than to measure how contemptible a congress is.

But there was a history making change in this Congress. Lots of Republicans were thrown out. The old Congress said it stood "shoulder to shoulder" with the President. The new, more "contemptible" Congress has said no such thing. This new more "contemptible" congress will be a check on the President's behavior...you know, kinda like "checks and balances".

And if a Congressman's behavior becomes suspect in illegal or unethical activities this "contemptible" congress will not go into "hibernation" like the old "non-contemptible" congress did when confronted with the DeLay matter. After all, the United States Constitution grants Congress the right to investigate itself.

Mucking through most of the 'swamp', lurking below the waterline are countless scavengers and blood-suckers, lying in wait to attack an unsuspecting and uninformed public.

To all you 'Semper Fi' guys, remember training? "I survive!" It's burned into your being. It's what comes first.

So...to all the rest of you who may never have had military boot camp, the idea is to survive first, so you can be there to take the lead, kill or drive the enemy back and help the next guy, so he doesn't die. You are an army unto yourself...

Well, all of you 'Damn the War!', people....the US of A military taught that credo and it's a fine thought. If the United States pulls its troops out, in fear that people are dying and too much money is being blown up for no reason....reason this:

It is totally contrary to 'I survive!' to even consider this. Survival implies defensive intent, but, moreover, demands offensive action where necessary.

Back to 'Semper Fi'...try this...."Yea, though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for I am the meanest son-of-a-bitch in the valley!"

No one....no group....no country will survive that thinks 'diplomacy is the only way to go, and if war comes, and it's not going the way you want, pick up your 'toys' and go home and live your life'. It just doesn't work that way.

Though the war be thousands of miles from our shores, the enemy will work its way onto the streets and broadways of this country and overtake it 'til...yes, 'til the Koran, burkas, Taliban, Jihad and everything else are the order of the day.

Over the doorway of a gun manufacturer in Germany is this saying in Latin: 'If you desire peace, then prepare for war.'

One more thing: you see what Iran is doing with the 15 British sailors, and everyone standing around, trying to talk with them and gain a release? 'Oh, we won't talk with you anymore if you don't give us back our people!'

The Iranians care?!?! No... They have Britain and the rest of the world by the 'short hairs', and no one's willing to push a button and nuke them to blazes. Would the rest of the Moslem terrorists and their cohorts flee back into the dark caves and hide in fear? You betcha!

I hope Russian intelligence is right....that the US is planning to launch missiles into Iran next weekend. Some one needs to have some 'balls' for a change. World leaders have become a bunch of pansies, afraid of the bully on the block.

Remember 'I survive'. If that's ignored, there is no survival...

"Why is it so hard to understand that if you set a deadline to pull out in war that all the terrorists have to do is lay low until that day, then they can very easily take over the country."

Why is it so hard to understand that until a deadline is set the Iraqis themselves will not seriously make any effort to combat the sectarian infighting and stabilize their own country?

James(U.S.M.C) would like everyone to know that he dismisses some of the comments made by posters.

There is nothing unusual about that.

Mr. James says the "The President has admitted failures and mis-steps."

Well, it is excellent that the President finally admitted to what the WHOLE world already knew. But still you don't get that nice "protected" feeling when the managers of an operation don't admit to something being wrong until well after EVERYBODY else knows.

And was the solution to the failures and mis-steps to add more troops? What happened to the recommendations of that panel put together to assist the President in managing the war effort? Nothing?

What the Bush team is recommending today was recommended in 2003 when the extra troops might have prevented the CHAOS that has become IRAQ. At that time the Bush team said NO!

Now, today, concerning the addition of more troop, the Bush team says YES! Congress says NO! Perhaps one should suggest to the Bush team the opposite of what one really wants.

A billion a week in Iraq - for what? $75 mil for American farmers? Sure it's pork, but I'd just as much be taxed for price supports, than being taxed to support a regime in the mideast that has no ability to protect its own people!

I guess borrowing hundreds of billions of dollars from overseas counts as restrained spending. I mean, as long as we don't raise taxes, we're okay, right?

War?

Is there still a war going on?

I thought this was going to be a cakewalk?

What's taking so long? It's been four years. Who are we fighting, Ghengis Kahn and his brother Don?

Fact is, it's no longer a war. It's like a nagging sore. War was over long ago. Mission was accomplished.

Now it's just people that are just fighting for the heck of it with no end in sight.

Did we learn something from Vietnam? Yeah. It's generally that you can't "win" one of these things. Not if the other side won't give up.

And unlike Vietnam, there aren't any real nice borders you can draw up to separate the warring factions. Joe Biden thinks so, but it's not really practical. Not when oil is the only reason to live there.

I admire Bush.

I wish I had the capacity to lie so effectively. It's almost admirable. Remember Dr. Bledsoe from The Invisible Man? [not-verbatim]"They can lie so well that it becomes the truth!"

The way I see it is perhaps the most atrocious, yet more complete way to solve all this: A-bomb.

A-bomb the entire Middle East. The way things are, America is crippled (and that's not an understatement), and only relies on its Big Guns.

Let water run.

P.S. Compassion is dead.

All I know is, this President is not going to get us out of Iraq.

He can't do it.

This disappoints me terribly. If he can't get us out, we may need to consider impeaching him.

Seriously, getting out of Iraq is that important to our economy via our national debt, our international reputation, and the advancement of democracy in other countries in the world.

We are gaining nothing by staying. We are risking more instability in the Middle East with Iran. We have lost credibility on human rights with all our illegial detentions around the world. We are not advancing the cause of democracy with our aggressive use of troops to invade another country. We are only prolonging our dependance on foreign oil by fighting for oil, instead of a NASA type investment to change our society.

If George cannot get us out of Iraq, we do need to find someone who will - so we can move on.

George, please pass the bills necessary to get us out of Iraq. Please negotiate with congress on when you can get us out. Humble yourself and make it work, or others may humble you.

Pork spending has increased under republican spending nearly 100 fold. During the Reagan years it was way less than that of the just kicked out republican congress. Why are we talking about an "emergency" bill for the war? The Baker Hamilton commission recommended folding it into the regular budget. Bush ignored this because it's easier to hide the costs of the war when it's separate from the regular budget. In short, he's using everything he can to keep this bs war going - including talking peanuts.

A friend, a former University of Alabama student told me a joke that may be the only solution to the middle east. He grew up in the middle east before coming to Alabama as a student in the 70's when Bama football was "Bama football".

Well he told me this joke during our 1st war with Iraq under Bush one. He and his Kuwaiti wife had just returned from Kuwait before Saddam's invasion, he was so lucky.

Oh, the joke he told me. Well a fellow was walking along the beach one day and found a bottle with a cork in it that had washed up on the shore...he uncorked it and a genie popped out...thank you, thank you so much for freeing me said the genie...for doing so I will grant you one wish....well the ole boy said...the middle east seems to be the root of all the world's problems...I wish for you to drop A-Bombs there and just blow it off the face of the earth! Oh my said the genie...I cannot do something so violent...do you have another wish?

Again this was the 70's and the ole boy was an Auburn grad....well he said the Auburn/Alabama football game is Saturday and I wish for Auburn to win...MMMMMM the genie replied...WHAT WAS YOUR 1ST WISH?

Well if you are an Alabama fan of late....looks like the genie reneged on the wish...he must be a democrat!

Let's take a poll....how many people here who now opposes the president, made the stupid mistake of voting for him twice?
Let's not take it out on the president, let's re-evaluate ourselves first. Are we "SMART" enough to make informed voting decisions as well as knowing what those votes would mean in the future.
Don't blame the president whn we have millions, literally millions of ignorant votes coming from the so-called Red States of Middle America.
In the future, vote for better education; when people are smarter and conscious, they will think twice before getting fooled by a fool.
THINK about it.

# 1.Being a foreiner living in the United States it has always amazed me how odd Americans are.Trust me, if America looses this war, it will not Bush loosing the war alone but America.
Posted by: Ed | Apr 1, 2007 3:06:31 AM

Ed..Is your native country also helping in Iraq?
Did you push for your country to join in this war you feel is so important? Did your country send like 30 troops over to help us out?
I didn't think so.

Paulo rails about ex President Clinton. Makes him responsible for every train-wreck created by the Bush team.

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ADMINISTRATION ONLY !!!!!

After President Bill Clinton left office, a new president took his place. That President's name is George Bush. George Bush is now President of the United States of America and the Bush team assumes full responsibility for the "care and feeding" of this great nation.

While this poster blames all the world's ills on ex-President Bill Clinton, he does not talk much about how the Bush team fixed any of the problems they "inherited". The Bush team did not create any problems of its own. Really. Honest.

Name one performance of the Bush team that did not turn out to be a "train-wreck". You are free to omit Big Oil's record profits if you like.

Who has any idea where the buck stops in the Bush team's domain? All problems, whether of the train wreck variety or not seems to get allocated to somebody else:

EX-PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, FASCIST SYMPATHIZERS, THOSE WHO WON'T "BACK-OFF", AL-QAEDA, THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE - EVERYBODY BUT THE BUSH TEAM.

It is difficult to understand how so many "train-wrecks" could be the output of a work unit that had a skill based design rather than an idealogy based design.

Unfortunately, ex President Bill Clinton will have to continue to shoulder the train-wrecks of the Bush team until the Bush team is capable of doing the job it was elected to do.

Barter system.

Is it possible congress already knows he will veto this bill seeings how bush has stated he plans to veto this bill so possibly maybe congress threw in a bunch of extra items that look pretty kewel to the common guy so as to begin with a high bargaining chip to go against bush's bargaining chip and so maybe when something useful and real does come out of all this, it will be more practical like pulling out today and giving the penut farmers 25 quadzillion rubles?

It is simply astounding to see how one administration, driven primarily by desire to enrich the most wealthy americans, financed by corporate wealth having NOTHING to do with the well being of the US and its population at large, has succeeded in destroying one of the post successful and powerful countries in the world. The very idea that the war in Iraq and use of American troops there has anything to do with the well being of "the American People" is at this point absolutely laughable. This conflict was created for economic reasons having little to do with what's good for most of Americans, and used Sept 11 as an extremely convenient starting point, almost a gift to the influences behind this "administration". Still, this is a great example of how the extreme greed of few, supported by the modern world's resorces and power, can alter the balance of history, not just for the US but for the middle east. Let's not kid ourselves about this: while it will take the US decades to recover from this war, the corporate and political interests that started and continued the conflict will continue to live in wealth and luxury that's beyond the imagination of most of us, regardless of what actually happens to the US. This is a global age after all -- those that can affort it can live anywhere in luxury. Dubay is as good as Texas. Still I am amazed how this "administration" and the total ignorance and apathy of the "american people" have ended the reign of US as a world power within less than 6 years. Amazing how much can change in such a short time.

I think one of the main points the media does not address regarding the America's dissatisfaction with the effort in Iraq is the fact that no matter how many generals are fired/hired we still end up with the same incompetent civilians running this show that keep making the same bad decisions. Not a very appealing prospect for success.

An administration less focused on pure dogma would be more tolerated by the American public. Once a Bush/Cheney theory is set in motion is that there is no Plan B (or C, D or E), no turning back and that the lack of planning results in continued huge, wasteful expenditures of $$$ and lives with no positive results - just so the administration does not get put in the position of admitting "Maybe this was a bad idea and we should have concentrated on Afghanistan".

Bush/Cheney = Disaster for America in ways we aren't even aware of yet.

During the '06 election cycle, a favorite talking point of Democrats was "earmark reform". Judging from this bill, the Dems really don't give a HOOT about earmark reform. Nor does the elite media.

The Dems are truly concentrating on "emergency war funding". Or, are they?

In recent years we in Minnesota have been witness to arguments of germainness in certain cases where bills passed with content attached which did not seem to be a logical part of the original bill's intent. The Personal Protection Act was one of those cases.

The issue of germainness is completely lost on our representatives at every level of legislation. It is troubling to have this Democratically sponsored and driven agenda touted as an important funding bill "to support our troops" when in truth it continues to encourage the enemies of the United States and the ideals of freedom and liberty expressed in our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

Please continue to pray for our Country and the people who represent you. Whether or not you think they are doing a good job, God promises to bless us as we do the work of the Lord. Also communicate with them. If you don't, you have no recourse but to vote every few years. Voting, as important as it is, is not the sole means of making our voices heard. And, we know that the vocal minority is often the voice which is heard. Be vocal. Pray, write, call, vote.

By the way, it's not the War in Iraq that is the issue. Iraq is a balttlefront in a wider conflict. Getting out of Iraq would do two things (in addition to others...). It would eventually lead to an ascendancy of centralized government, and it would wreck the lives of a lot of people who have dreams of living without tyranny. At that point we would have a simplified target stucture. The nationalized enemies would be easy targets for conventional action, such as just nuking them into oblivion. Maybe that's the way it should work out...

SSI is an 'entitlement' program!!? And here I thought I was PAYING for it every week...this guy is totally clueless...

If there is any question about what is the right path to take...just read the preceeding comments in the SWAMP and it is obvious that peanuts are what George has and if he dosen't sign the bill, DUTY CALLS ...IMPEACH...IMPEACH...IMPEACH!

Just to put the record straight, to quote someone:

--
We live in this country, the civil war was about this country, as was the war to run England back to their home land. You said the Iraqis are just as we were wanting freedom. WRONG.... We fought for our freedom, we did not have another country do it for us, much less build us back up again after the fight. We stood up and did this our self as Americans. There seems to be much of our own history you seem to have forgotten or never learn.

--
Didnt have a country to back you up? Its called France, little splotch of land between Spain and the English Channel, turn left at Germany, famous for Conquering most of Europe at one stage, only been around for centuries now... If they didnt arm and support the revolutionaries, there'd be no USA.

Sure they didnt do it for you (any excuse to hurt the English...), but give them some respect, without em, you'd still be subjects of her maj.

It seems Bush is choking on peanuts instead of pretzels.
He calls himself the war president, so the result is in the cake.
Our taxes have been thrown down a rat hole and seems most of us know who the rats are.

A peanut farmer asked his two employees to go out and spray the crops for bugs. One was a democrat and the other was a republican. The democrat said lets make a deal with the bugs, they wont eat that much and we can set on our buts. The republican argued with the democrat that after a while the bugs will grow stronger and eat more. The farmer was shocked by the response from the democrat and asked the republican how much it would cost to win the battle with the bugs.The republican told the farmer it would take hard work, at least half of your money and you will have to keep killing them forever.

The farmer did not like the price, the bad news or the job ahead. But he was a farmer.

So the farmer fired one of his employees.......

George Bush is the head of the most corrupt, morally, intellectually, and emotionally depraved administration in the history of our universe.

He and his minions are pathetic excuses for public servants. They serve no one except their infantile and malformed selves.

Please let 2008 get here so a new leader can begin the painful process of restoring some semblance of normalacy.

1000 millions equal one billion.
100,000 millions equal one hundred billion.

1 million equals 1000 thousands
75 million equals 75,000 thousands.

75 million is .00075 % of 100 billion.
It would take 1,333.33 of 75,000,000s to make 100,000,000,000

Compare this to the $12,000,000,000* in cash that went missing, unaccounted for, that was shipped on pallets into Iraq winding up in the hands of unknown persons: If another such squanderable 12 billion has been included in the 100 billion, it would represent
12% of the total.

$750,000,000 for peanuts would only represent .00625 % of the disappeared 12 billion.

So, if Bush would kindly find and regain the 12 billion of our money he lost track of in Iraq, we'd have money for peanuts and a whole lot more.

*February 7, 2007
Waxman Raps Ex - Iraq Chief Over Aid Funds
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

"Henry" got the story wrong (as do most GOP supporters - but do we really expect more?).

A Farmer had 2 employees, a Democrat and a Republicant. He asked them to spray his crops for bugs. The Republicant said that he'd need more money than the farmer had and the farmer had to agree to never go out and check to see if he had done a good job.

The Democrat argued that it was the farmer's money and the farmer should be able to check their work. At this the Republicant started whining about the job and that the Democrat also wanted to spend .075% of the bill on some other things the farmer wanted, like a storage facility for his peanuts.

Didn't you hippie babyboomer neo-cons learn anything from Vietnam?

Posted by: Brian | Mar 31, 2007 12:16:11 PM

Yeah d-bag we did. Hippies suck. Punk rock was kool. And chickenhawk jerk-offs like you should sign up and go fight your precious war, instead of a bunch kids with more guts than you'll ever dream of having to die for it. Quit smoking pot! You offend me.

I disagree with Deserter Beagle. K Becker and the rest of you brainwashed fools. I wish we could set all you whiners, Bush babiers, and stay the course queens outside the light of our campfires and oh so much nearer the insurgents for a few short days. You would become wiser, the ones of you who survived, and consequently much better Americans like your GrandFathers...

Posted by: Fred | Mar 31, 2007 9:21:03 PM

Hey tuff guy Fred I've got a couple of folded up flags in place of a grandfather and a father so put a sock in it. You're a sheep. Now quit your whining. Your a fool for supporting this endlessly. We should have left after mission accomplished. Sign up, ship out, and .... off!

I'm w/ BIGDUMBWHITEBOY. We still owe Iran something from years ago when they invaded our embassy. Let the bombs fall where they may....

A "bogus" reason was giving for starting a war to unseat the head of a country. The focus of the Bush team's effort was to unseat a head of country. The war's managers thought that would not take long - and actually the cost should be worth the effort - so they "planned".

But is the cost worth the effort? In lives and dollars, is the cost worth the effort? Ok, suppose you don't want to measure the cost in dollars and lives - but some kind of value to mankind.

Should America have embarked upon this strategy alone? Shouldn't other major powers have been interested in aiding mankind? If the Bush team's motives had something to do with mankind, shouldn't the Bush team have been able to persuade (diplomatically - not with threats) others to join?

Assuming the Bush team operated within international law, why was the only major powers standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Bush team from the motherland and a sibling-land. Why was diplomacy not able to persuade the United Nations?

This war is a mistake. Right wingers don't want to admit it. And the Bush team is in denial. It might make the party look bad to admit failure. Better the party should keep on keeping on or staying the course until a miracle happens.

Although this war may look to the world like it is a civil war, the right wing of the Republican party won't admit it because then, America should not be fighting there.

Even the Bush team would declare it will not get involved in a "CIVIL WAR". Although what's happening in Iraq could be called a civil war - if America was not already involved. But since America is involved, it is not a civil war.

The United Nations was the proper entity to handle a threat to the world's nations. Why was the U.N. absent? Why was the Bush team in such a big hurry to depose a head of state? That was the the Bush team's goal - right?

If one had asked the "regime change" planners back in 2003 if they would be mired down in Iraq in 2007, the laughter would have lasted for a year - but after a year, the mood would have become somber. The planner's obviously mis-planned.

This war smelled from the start and you can't now wrap an American flag around it and claim it for America's own. Sure the Bush team should not have gone into Iraq. Sure the Bush team was advised not to go, but since when has the Bush team taken OUTSIDE advice seriously.

The truth of the matter is that we have two groups of incompetents trying to run this country and neither applies any common sense to the real issues.

We would be best off without Democrats and Republicans and have a 'team' of the American party addressing the real needs of our country.

I remember will when Bush was lying to us all about why the U.S. had to take down Sadam. Only a single thing he said was the truth; "and besides,
he (Sadam) tried to kill my daddy." Well he got Sadam killed, and tens of thousands of others.
Why are we still there? Because we have gutless
wonders in government who are afraid of losing their high paid jobs. And a gutless president whose IQ is no more than room temperature. An IQ test should be a requirement for a presidential candidate.

I support the president. I think it's shameful that the liberal media has biased the public against the president.

If the democrats had there way our women would be working in Taliban run brothels and our children would be forced to grow beards, drink camels milk, and memorize the Koran.

The fact that terrorist aren't running amok in our streets is proof that the president is doing his job. I might also point out that face eating monkies are also largely abscent from our nations capital which is further proof of the great job president Bush is doing to keep America safe.

We should do as our commander in chief has said and 'stay the course'. I think President Bush is doing a great job. Creating endless conflict in the middle east will keep the terrorist occupied for years to come. It's also great for America's booming oil industry--which is good for the economy.

If you really want to blame someone for the current state of affairs then blame president Clinton. If he hadn't provided generous welfare handouts to Saddam Hussein and his cronies we wouldn't be here today. ...Clinton also cheated on his wife.

(I'm not sure if it would be legal, but I think we should try to impeach Clinton again for good measure.)

Anyway, to sum up... We're turning the corner. President Bush's policy of creating chaos in the middle east is only just starting to work. Don't be a godless liberal fascist democrat tax and spend troop hating flip floping cut and runner. Stay the course!

-Karl R

Arturo Jabra'il Sancho, maybe the good Marine isn't a fascist. You speak of communism, yet balk at those of us who want the Constitution and Bill of Rights restored.
The "Patriot Act" suspends all of those things-read it for yourself. At the direction of any president, an American citizen, natural born or not, may have their citizenship stripped from them without cause or appeal. That is what you support.

Considering the way Bush and co have gone after anyone not on message-even fellow republicans-your blind faith and loyalty is greatly misplaced.

As someone from a military family, you insult our fine soldiers with your rhetoric. END the war, bring them home NOW or draft all republicans-young or not.

IMPEACH THE IDIOT NOW.

He is a man sorely lacking in intellectual abilities as is evidenced by his jr. high level speech capacity.

I pray God sees us through this fool......
P

I support the president. I think it's shameful that the liberal media has biased the public against the president.

If the democrats had there way our women would be working in Taliban run brothels and our children would be forced to grow beards, drink camels milk, and memorize the Koran.

The fact that terrorist aren't running amok in our streets is proof that the president is doing his job. I might also point out that face eating monkies are also largely abscent from our nations capital which is further proof of the great job president Bush is doing to keep America safe.

We should do as our commander in chief has said and 'stay the course'. I think President Bush is doing a great job. Creating endless conflict in the middle east will keep the terrorist occupied for years to come. It's also great for America's booming oil industry--which is good for the economy.

If you really want to blame someone for the current state of affairs then blame president Clinton. If he hadn't provided generous welfare handouts to Saddam Hussein and his cronies we wouldn't be here today. ...Clinton also cheated on his wife.

(I'm not sure if it would be legal, but I think we should try to impeach Clinton again for good measure.)

Anyway, to sum up... We're turning the corner. President Bush's policy of creating chaos in the middle east is only just starting to work. Don't be a godless liberal fascist democrat tax and spend troop hating flip floping cut and runner. Stay the course!

-Karl R

Wake up America. The objective of a war is to win and you have won in Iraq. You took over the country with a small force. You captured its defiant leader and disposed of him. You've sustained losses comparable with the first two days of the D-day in WWII. (You loose ten times more people in car accidents each year). Your enemies are killing each other at their own volition. All you have to do is to stay out of the way and out of reach. But NOT OUT OF THERE! You forces are still present in Japan and Germany, the countries you've freed more than 60 year ago. It is you duty and the right, as a benevolent winners you are, to STAY.
Your enemy should not be allowed to claim victory. Your media should stop doing it on their behalf.

George, George, I know that the stress of having your back against the wall and everyone telling you that you have been, are now and plan on being wrong with your 'policies' (sic) in Iraq but, nonetheless, how could you misconstrue the concept that YOU are the Commander-in-Chief and, simultaneously, one of the 'Politicians in Washington' (who you say are hampering and interfering with the generals on the ground)and, therefore, fully responsible for what 'strategy' there is condemning them (the generals), and the troops (see latest on Pat Tillman) to cobble together tactics from a limited pool of options...YOU are the 'Obstructioner'!

Posted by: robert montgomery | Mar 31, 2007 12:27:57 PM

Oh Robert, Robert ...You must be the second coming of Christ, so full of wisdom, and moral authority...where have you been for all these years? You could of saved the world from that devil Geo . Bush, if only you would of spoken sooner Robert,,,how did the world exist before you made your presence known ? A sage in our very own times', how fortunate for us that you posted on this site, you bring much moral clarity to what's wrong with our country and what Geo. Bush did to wreck our country. Thank you Robert , oh Robert.... p.s. i also corrected your numerous spelling errors , hardly the work of a man of your stature Robert.
Also there are no dictionary entries for obstructioner Robert

The war is ALL about Bush's OIL friends......Wait until the price to go up to $4.00 a share and his oil friends are laughing all the way to the bank with HUGE windfall profits with the BLOOD of our fellow Americans who are just like you and me.

NO MORE worthless SACRIFICE for the benefits of Bush's OIL FRIENDS and OPEC and Chevez!!!...and the disgusting PROFITEERING of the rotten companies which STOLE TAX PAYERS' money in the name of IRAQ WAR!!!

Enough is enough!!! Stop the suffering and loss of lives, from both U.S. and Iraqis, and waste of money from YOU and ME who pay taxes loyally everyday!!!

And, get rid of the CLOWNS like ROVE and Gonzales!!!

If Bush does veto the spending bill, I guess he just runs out of money and the troops can come home.

"I like peanuts as much as the next guy,'' President Bush said today, "but I believe the security of our troops should come before the security of our peanut crop.''

If you want security for our troops, BRING THEM HOME!! The ONLY thing they have done in the Bush-whack Iraq attack is build hate to the US all over the world, and money to Haliburton. A pretty sad result for $500Billion, 3200 american, and perhaps a hundred thousand Iraqi lives. Jesus said "love your enemy" Mt 5:44. But I dont think we really had an enemy in Iraq. Terrorists stays away from Saddham, adn only started buiding in numbers when the US attacked.

The only good that can be salvaged from this disaster is for US to have a good debate on war and peace when it is over. It looks like there has been more cheering for war than people who want peace.

"Of what value is our boast of civilization or Christianization, while we tolerate, as popular and justifiable, the most horrid custom which ever resulted from human wickedness."
--- Noah Worcester, 1833

and remember, the next war is the last.

A few thoughts:

9/11 was terrible but Iraq/Saddam had nothing to do with it. In fact Iraq/Saddamhad nothing to do with international terrorism, Saddam was just a local bully. Ofcourse he was sitting on an ocean of oil.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are major sponsors of terrorism internationally. They are both Bush allies in the "War on terror".
American arms are freely available on the streets of Afghanistan.
These are a few random facts

For all those people providing awesome thoughts about "cut and run" policy and "for us to be safe, we need to stay in Iraq", I have one question. What does Iraq ever had to do with 9/11? and why does it make us unsafe if we withdraw from Iraq?

The terrorists who planned the worst attacks in American history are hiding somewhere in AFG and PAK and instead of trying to remove them all and reduce future threats, this president drove us into the middle of an unnecessary war to begin with. I am not siding with Saddam or anything, I know he is a bad guy and all that. But, if you were President, what would be your real priority after 9/11. Leaving an unfinished mission in AFG and dragging our troops into Iraq in an unplanned manner is one of the worst mistakes of our time.

Partisan emotions aside, ask yourself this question. Did this guy do any good for us in the last 7 years?

We all make mistakes and the key is to learn from these mistakes and change the strategy, when necessary. Getting his ego do all the talk/work is borderline stupidity. He and his administration failed us on numerous accounts.

Rumsfeld (War), Chertoff(Katrina), Gonzales(so many controversies, I lost the count). This administration always tries to make everything political and I guess Karl Rove is more in control in WH than anyone else. And for him, party comes first before the Americans. Just take a deep breath and ask yourself this question. How many times did this administration failed us in the last 7 years.

Personally, I can't trust a guy with the IQ of a 5 year old be called the leader of the free world. When was the last time you heard him say one sentence without a mistake in it?

Why aren't we IMPEACHing this G-D fool ???

IMPEACH
IMPEACH
IMPEACH
IMPEACH
IMPEACH
IMPEACH

I'm beginning to like the sound of that word.

Why is it that the American Liberals seem to forget 9/11. We didn't start this thing but we are trying to stop it.

How quickly YOU FORGET.

I have a son who proudly serves his country. I think that the budgets to support the military should be a top priority. I know what these young military people make and it is a shame that the money that is to go to support them has to be hindered with additional funds for pork barrel politics is added to appease the politicians. I don't care which party you support, STOP playing politics and do what is right.

9/11/2001 al-Qa'ida attack on the US World Trade Towers happened
Today, al-Qa'ida is still operational, it's leader Usama Bin Laden is still getting around after how many 100's of Billions of dollars spent on the 'War On Terrorism"???

Bush and company attacked Iraq a country proven to have nothing to do with al-Qa'ida or the world trade towers.

If any of you are paying attention you will remember that when US Forces first defeated Saddam (he really needed to go) that the Shi'ah mostly remained passive with a wait and see attitude. But when the Ba'athist and al-Qa'ida insurgency started attacking the Shi'ah Iraqi the US military failed to circumvent this obvious al-Qa'ida plan to create a quagmire for the US.

Bush and company has allowed al-Qa'ida to come into Iraq and foment a horrible civil war that is costing the lives of tens of thousands of Iraqis (yes read the news...al-Qa'ida is the root of this civil war)

Bush and company is now touting the need for a confrontation with Iran, a sworn enemy of al-Qa'ida and who has repeatedly helped the US against al-Qa'ida.

We have a minimal presense in Afghanistan where al-Qa'ida is axctually based and where everyone knows Usama is hiding.

Is anyone really paying attention?

al-Qa'ida and organizations like it are where the war on terrorism needs to concentrate. Go after them...take them down...

But Bush and company have their relationship with the Saudi's to think about. They can't be too hard on al-Qa'ida and the Ba'athists. After all, if they do crush them then Iraq will be dominated by Kurds and Shi'ah arabs. Can't have that can we?

Some one get real!

To all readers: all the congressional records are available for viewing at thomas.loc.gov which is what I set out after reading the President's comments about the bill.

Once I found the bill and read it carefully I can ask myself an important question: Why is the president misleading the public once again?

Aside from the earmarks towards peanut farmers, which I did not find in House Congressional Resolution 99 (This is the bill I found which discusses fiscal years budgets and iraq) described lifting the tax relief for the top 1% tax payers. Imagine that! It seems to me that the president is trying to convince us that we ordinary citizens are going to bear the brunt of the taxation when in reality he is really trying to protect the interests of the top 1% tax payers.

This is disgraceful and a shame. I personally regret having given our president support in the past, a mistake I will not make twice.

I urge every reader to go read the house/congressional records, which are public records, and measure the information you read against the claims our president makes.

It never ceases to amaze me. How people in this country can be so short sighted about our involvement in Iraq. The war in Iraq wasn't even hours old before the media and the Democrats were comparing it to Viet Nam and using the word quagmire to describe it. But never have they shown the good our troops have done over there. Never a word about schools, hospitals, public services or rebuidling an independent Iraq.

This Congress should be tried for treason for tying the budget to a withdrawl timetable which can only serve to send the enemy the message that we are foolish and vulnerable and all they need to do is wait and they can attack us an win.

Foolsh Lt. Col., foolsh Congress, foolish you if you buy it.

JJ

Congress and the American people were told why the Bush team wanted to go to war with Iraq. The Bush team cited WMDs as their motive for going into Iraq. And if the Bush team honestly thought that to be the case, then what should the team have done if they found out differently?

What should the team have done after diplomat Joe Wilson, who was sent to Niger to find WMDs, came back with a negative report. No WMDs.

Why did Joe Wilson's wife, all of a sudden find her name in newspapers? She was a CIA operative but she sure was a well known CIA operative after those news stories. I suppose you read about the Libby trial. The Bush team is quite innovative. It looks it was trying to make WMDs where there were no WMDs.

And the San Francisco Chronicle, not loved by the bush team, printed a story that said a large per-centage of America still believed in those WMDs. Apparently no one has told the true believers to believe differently. But in reality, those WMDs are still an American secret.

And another well kept American secret that has escaped America's attention is "where is that terrorist report said to have been hand delivered to the White House by Mr George Tenet of the CIA two months prior to 9/11/2001.

I believe that both of those documents, if they exist, may have been filed away in Pandora's box.

Two days of comments and 99% of nothing but finger-pointing, position-justifying and name-calling. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised that Congress and the White House appear to have flunked Imagination 101!

Like most of my fellow citizens, I am sick and tired of our government's (both the White House AND Congress) mindless, unimaginative and endless approach to the quagmire in Iraq! Having gone in and destroyed the Iraqi government and infrastructure, we owed the Iraqis an opportunity to start anew for the betterment of all. We “won” the war and then made serious mistakes establishing the peace. Too bad, but nobody is perfect. This simply made it incumbent on us to give Iraq our best shot at setting things right and then to at least go the extra mile. 

Well, we have tried harder and still all the Sunnis and Shiites seem to want to do is slaughter each other and anybody who wears an American uniform! As Loraine Ali pointed out in the 19 March 2007 issue of Newsweek, about our most significant accomplishment appears to have been  to destroy the moderate, secular, progressive Iraqi middle class. The only real success story we have to show for our efforts is Kurdish Iraq! The US has given enough! It is time to either get out of Iraq or to take the psychological initiative! 

President Bush seems to have gotten his ego entangled in Iraq and a rather unimaginative ego it is at that! Why are we seemingly locked into the status quo effectively created by L. Paul Bremer? At most, we hear whispers about a federal Iraq (for that reason alone I hope that Tommy Thompson can get a credible campaign going—at least he can get his mind around the idea) and not even that much about the possible partitioning of Iraq! It ought to be obvious to anyone who is not brain-dead that the status quo is not a winning option. All that the US can do with the status quo is try to control how much of our shirt we will lose. 

The US has lost the initiative and needs to regain it in order to have even the slightest chance of snatching some form of victory out of the jaws of defeat. More troops, more bullets and more bombs constitute no more than a larger defensive measure which will be perceived by the Iraqi man-on-the-street as merely a larger, more trigger-happy occupation force. It does NOT regain us the initiative! After 25 years in uniform one thing that I did learn is that you CANNOT win unless you take the initiative—whether that be the military, psychological or political initiative!

Under the current mind-set (both US and Iraqi), unless a miracle occurs, Iraq will tear itself apart either while we are there or immediately after we have left. Let us use this to our advantage! Let us regain the initiative by officially recognizing that Iraq is tearing itself apart and by stating that we are not prepared to spend the money and blood that putting Humpty Dumpty back together again will require. We need to make it clear that unless the current Iraqi government can make the political deals needed to subdue the sectarian violence and eject the foreign insurgents (ideally by October and at worse by the end of 2007) the US will withdraw unilaterally. 

If the Iraqi government is unable to accomplish this we should give them an option that will allow them a fighting chance to end the bloodshed. The option would be that the US would support a plebiscite that will establish three new nations, Kurdish, Sunni and Shia respectively. The provinces comprising each new nation would be determined by whichever of the three options received a plurality of votes in each province.  

For its part, the US would then guarantee the borders of all three nations for as long as each nation is willing to accept US troops on their soil and to help support the expense of maintaining those troops. The reimbursement would be based on some sort of sliding scale related to the level of economic prosperity achieved by each of the new nations.  

By this one shift of policy, the US would have put the Iraqi government on notice that they must get serious about creating a workable government or they can look forward to the US leaving in less than a year and leaving them to the gentle ministrations of their frustrated and angry citizens. This should focus the minds of all but the most megalomaniacal of the ministers and government bureaucrats. 

If, as is most likely, the Iraqi government is too far gone to achieve any form of unity and effective authority over the country, but is smart enough to see the advantages in partition, it puts the US in a very strong position. Every other country in the region as well as the sectarian insurgents would have lost the psychological initiative. 

With partition, we would probably see a surge of migration something on the order of what happened when British India was partitioned, but not on the same scale and hopefully, while under the purview of the current complement of US troops, not as violent. 

Turkey, while alarmed and angered at the creation of a Kurdish state that might renew the nationalistic aspirations of its own Kurdish population, would be constrained by its desire to join the European Union and could probably be persuaded to open cordial relations with what is starting to look like what could be the biggest economic success story in the Middle East. This is probably the most dangerous wild card that full partition of Iraq would put into play, but it is also a card that a JFK, a Nixon, a Reagan, a Bush I or maybe even a Clinton could play effectively—I’m not so sure about Bush II. The bottom line is that it would be a whole lot better card to have in one’s hand than the current “stay the course” card that we are currently trying to take the pot with.

The Iranians would be troubled by the new Kurdish state due to their own Kurdish population and would probably be excited by the possibility of union with the new Shia state. So long as the US guarantees the sovereignty of the Kurdish state, the Iranians are likely to tread lightly on the interests of their Kurdish minority so as not to encourage any worse forms of secessional guerilla warfare. The new Shia state would be likely to play the Iranians for whatever aid and comfort they could extract, but being Arabs would probably be leery of becoming a minority within a Persian state. 

The Sunni state would most likely remain independent due to residual Iraqi pride and due to what would probably be positively Machiavellian gyrations by Jordan and Syria to ensure that the other did not manage to achieve union with the new Sunni state. This unsettled situation would probably be encouraged by the diplomatic efforts of both Turkey and Saudi Arabia. 

All in all, this is not a perfect solution, and it is one fraught with risks, but it is one that promises to be far, far more peaceful with far fewer risks, and many more potential advantages, to the US than what the present path in Iraq offers. More importantly, it is a different idea that might get us out of our hypnotic fascination with the bipolar straitjacket of “stay” or “run” and stir other, even better, ideas to bubble to the surface.

"Naturally, the common people don't want war, but they can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. Tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and endangering the country. It works the same in every conuntry."

Herman Goering, Hitler's Reichsmarshall at the Nuremberg Trials

History is a great teacher if there are students that listen.

bezelt,
I forgot to mention that B.J.Clinton also pardoned twelve members of a terrorist organization in the last days of his failed presidency.
Go ahead and try to defend this pervert,he's responsible for his failure's that led to 9/11 and the explosion of terrorism all over the world in todays time.
Paulo

Bob T Guy says, " By the way, it's not the war in Iraq that is the issue...".

Sorry...but the Bush team said it was IRAQ. The Bush team said nothing about this Iraq war being a gateway to the world of terror although it may look like it because the Bush team came badly prepared to do the job they wanted to do.

And it seems like the Bush team is HUGELY motivated to hold on to the Iraq war budget. One company that was paid out of the Iraq war budget gave some money back. WOW!!! Gave money back. Was that conscience or an accounting error?

Have you forgotten that there are terrorist out there. If the president would have signed this bill, the terrorist would have called it a victory. They, the terrorist, and Iran would then fall on Iraq and kill thousands after we have left. They would have greater control over the oil and with that money and their "victory", they would come here. I'm for saving the Iraqi people, and not letting the terrorist a foothold in a rich country to build an army to come against us. To think that everything will be fine if we just pull out now or set some date for the terrorist to call victory is the biggest error we could make. I would ask that you put aside your dislike for president Bush and look at the situation for what it is. If you would like to read the blog that Bush quoted, you can find it at www.iraqthemodel.com

JoeBlow makes it sound easy.

Just don't tell the world you are pulling out of Iraq by a certain date and the insurgents will loose the battle?

If we make our stay indefinite, sooner or later the insurgents will stop the killing because sooner or later they are going to run out of "bullets". Then we got'em.

I'm just angry and embarrassed by what a pack of lazy cowards we all have been. Our national honor is almost fatally diminished at this point. Let's not kid ourselves as to the blame. This is a Democracy. WE allowed the spoiled brat, callow, smirking dullard fratboy son of a multi-millionaire to become OUR PRESIDENT. What did we expect, service and statecraft? SHAME ON ALL OF US.
Posted by: Michael McOsker | Mar 31, 2007 4:19:17 PM

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yes, Michael but there are still unanswered questions about the extent of the role played by electronic voting machines, the premonition about whose camp Ohio would fall into and the hobnobbing of that electronic voting machine executive with high officials of the Republican party.

While I saw no action taken by the United States Justice Department to the Ohio electronic voting machine outcry(a Republican result), I did note that Mr. Bush's Justice Department saw fit to take note of that little "no stop light" town in Mississippi...something about a black white voting problem(not likely a Republican result).

Too bad--the internet has turned into a YELLING machine.

Responsibility for statement, opinions, accusations do not get an opp[rtunity for quick! response, like, say, conversation.

Electronic bumper stickers indeed.

wmujcc said:

You have to wonder what the liberal's agenda really is. Last fall they promised us, the voters, cooperation across the aisle in Congress, no more earmarks or pork in future budgets, ethical politicians, balanced budgets, support for the troops risking their lives for the American people, etc, etc, etc.

What do we have to show for electing them?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It is not possible to resuscitate this country's national debt, privacy laws, three independent branches of government, respect for the law, obeying the law, ethical house of representatives, checks on the President's behavior, perusing the President's signing statements, trying to find all the secret prisons on other country's soil, who outed Valerie Plame and a ton of other problems that are before them.

Congress is doing great but of course there is more to be done. Still outstanding is the "Double standard" in the impeachment of Presidents. You may recall that ex President Bill Clinton was impeached by, basically a Republican Congress with some right wing columnist type people in the cheering stands. The issue was personal. No damage done to the country.

Now contrast that to the current President. I am sure you will agree that there is no comparison between the two President's behaviors. If President Bill Clinton was impeached and President Bush is not then impeachment is a bigger gamble than most thought. The rule of law should be more precise than a gamble.

Steve | Apr 1, 2007 2:10:20 PM

Steve,

Is that ALL you have to say?

As a self professed conniosseur of left wing conspiracy theories, selective memories and selective facts, I find bezelt's post's compelling.

Thanks bezelt for bringing us some new doozies to add to the comedy of left wing folklore.

Next thing you know revisionists will start referring to Clinton's 2000 mid east peace proposal as masterful as a Frank Lloyd Wright design.......oh wait Thomas Friedman just did.

http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/2007/03/many-plans-no-news.html

The comedy known as modern liberalism continues.

Have you heard anything about that fellow Ben Lad... Oh! Bin Ladin, I almost forgot...

Posted by: DB | Mar 31, 2007 11:16:46 PM

DB.... You sound like a Bolshevik. do you propose taking the profits of Exxon- Mobil comrade ? It's been widely reported Bin-Laden died of acute typhoid last August. The left wing radical newspapers here for some reason don't like to report the truth. But you sound like a real smart fellow DB, I'm sure you know otherwise.

K. Williams says: To all you 'Semper Fi' guys, remember training? "I survive!" It's burned into your being. It's what comes first.

All throughout basic training and Marine Combat Training and MOS school there were two things the instructors hammered into our minds and souls over and over again: "Work smarter, not harder" and "Always help out a fellow Marine."

It's not "working smarter" to keep throwing troops and resources into a meat grinder scenario, one where the only product is casualties. But these loyal Marines will keep following orders to fill in the gaps so they can needlessly die like the Marine they are replacing. Marines follow orders, that's what we do. So how do I propose to help my fellow Marines? Simple, change the orders. Bush needs to be pressured to bring the troops home instead of letting them get slaughtered by all sides of a regional conflict. Remember, Bush is a public official, he is under the employ of the taxpayers, We The People are his boss not the other way around. If an employee in the private sector repeatedly lies to their boss, gives their buddies hook-ups under the table, and tries to intimidate their boss when he/she finds out, what happens? They Get Fired!! This isn't the private sector, the stakes are much higher here. We're not protecting our profits or our image with our customers, we are arguing over the lives of America's sons and daughters, our standing in the international community, and the future of free speech and privacy in America. If the Dems feel they need to tie the appropriations bill to other projects in order to up the ante on Bush, then I say it's just a start. Everything the Congress passes should have a troop-pullout deadline tied to it from now until everyone makes it back home. Anything less would be letting Bush off the hook.

I'm just angry and embarrassed by what a pack of lazy cowards we all have been. Our national honor is almost fatally diminished at this point. Let's not kid ourselves as to the blame. This is a Democracy. WE allowed the spoiled brat, callow, smirking dullard fratboy son of a multi-millionaire to become OUR PRESIDENT. What did we expect, service and statecraft? SHAME ON ALL OF US.
Posted by: Michael McOsker | Mar 31, 2007 4:19:17 PM

Speak for yourself pal, I'm proud and very happy that we have this man as our President. He has the guts to recognize the work that has to be done. Just because a left wing kool-aid drinker says our national honor is diminished doesn't make it so. The mere fact that some many people want to come and live here is very telling, we must be doing something right. Now don't be too hard on yourself, I'm sure you'll get over whatever it is that's wrong with you.

I forgot to mention that B.J.Clinton also pardoned twelve members of a terrorist organization in the last days of his failed presidency.

Posted by: Paulo | Apr 1, 2007 2:31:04 PM

Paulo, here's a Department of Justice link to the pardons Clinton gave before he left office. Please name the twelve members of a terrorist organization that are on this list.

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pardonchartlst.htm

The issue was personal. No damage done to the country.
Posted by: bezelt | Apr 1, 2007 4:08:10 PM

Mr. Clintoon committed a felony, he lied to a grand jury. That's what you get impeached for. I believe they call it a law.

bezelt,
I forgot to mention that B.J.Clinton also pardoned twelve members of a terrorist organization in the last days of his failed presidency.
Go ahead and try to defend this pervert,he's responsible for his failure's that led to 9/11 and the explosion of terrorism all over the world in todays time.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | Apr 1, 2007 2:31:04 PM
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

During the "failed presidency" of President Bill Clinton the National Debt was in fine shape. It is a colossal mess now. During the "failed presidency" of President Bill Clinton, America could still talk diplomacy to other countries. No, diplomat would dare threaten to blow a country back into the stone age as a way to "entice" cooperation from that country.

I seriously doubt that former President Bill Clinton would be heard to say - in the heat of the battle between Israel and Lebanon that "he would not tell Israel how to protect itself". Everybody knew what that meant. And that meaning was not lost on the Arab population of the world. And of course, it now looks like American diplomacy is not really desired where there are conflicts.

I seriously doubt that former President Bill Clinton would throw out a challenge to terrorists to "bring it on". That is, at least, a provocative challenge and some terrorist or perhaps even terrorist wannabes might take up the challenge.

And it sure is strange how the Bush team seems to be a magnet for bad behaviors. Ever wonder why that is?

It is mind boggling that a member of the UNITED STATES JUSTICE DEPARTMENT wants to plead the fifth amendment. That is truly weird!

I will try to find out who the twelve members of the terrorist organization are. The ones that you said President Bill Clinton pardoned.

As a self professed conniosseur of left wing conspiracy theories, selective memories and selective facts, I find bezelt's post's compelling.

Thanks bezelt for bringing us some new doozies to add to the comedy of left wing folklore.

Next thing you know revisionists will start referring to Clinton's 2000 mid east peace proposal as masterful as a Frank Lloyd Wright design.......oh wait Thomas Friedman just did.

http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/2007/03/many-plans-no-news.html

The comedy known as modern liberalism continues.

Posted by: JD | Apr 1, 2007 5:54:09 PM

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

What doozies do you have reference to?

Oh, well - I have once again been exposed to the SPAM check. It's the black letters and numbers on a black background. That is supposed to be a test for computer generated responses - but sometimes I wonder if the black on black is not meant to grab humans too.

That is certainly a good way to slow down or even stop input from human beings as well as computers. Where the background and foreground colors are the same, it is very hard to distinguish letters or numbers. I believe the term for that is "invisible".

he issue was personal. No damage done to the country.
Posted by: bezelt | Apr 1, 2007 4:08:10 PM

Mr. Clintoon committed a felony, he lied to a grand jury. That's what you get impeached for. I believe they call it a law.
Posted by: Don B | Apr 1, 2007 6:59:57 PM
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Ok, Don B. He broke the law and that's why the Republicans wanted to impeach him. But his transgression pales in the light of what the Bush team has done.

News accounts said that the Republican congress and the PRESS were the principle drivers for impeachment of President Bill Clinton. And it was all about "inappropriate touching" or if you will, lying about inappropriate touching . That behavior pales in comparison to the Bush teams spying on Americans.

To see some real suggested articles of impeachment you could visit ImpeachBush.org. A list of twenty items of a proposed set of articles of impeachment can be seen at that site. I reproduced ten of them in for my Google blog. There is no comparison between the behaviors of the two Presidents.

President Bill Clinton testified under oath. Why won't the Bush team testify under oath? You just try to get a Bush team member to testify under oath. That - so far seems to be impossible unless you believe that taking the fifth amendment is testifying under oath.

Of all the Bush team members who could take the fifth, The UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE would just have to be the last one anybody would pick to plead the fifth. But news accounts said that is exactly what would happen.

Here ya go BC,only it was 14 terrorists,not 12 ...sorry about that.
Oh,BC any correction on your post regarding The U.S. putting Saddam Hussein in power? You really blew that one!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1106506/posts
Paulo

Karl R,

Great post. Its pretty hard to get sarcasm to work on the electronic screen, but you accomplish this goal admirably. I particularly like:

"I might also point out that face eating monkies are also largely abscent from our nations capital which is further proof of the great job president Bush is doing to keep America safe.

Before that line, I was about to offer you a rock from my front yard that will keep tigers from attacking your house. Its worked for me for over 20 years! Ahh, I love specious reasoning.

Speak for yourself pal, I'm proud and very happy that we have this man as our President. He has the guts to recognize the work that has to be done. Just because a left wing kool-aid drinker says our national honor is diminished doesn't make it so. The mere fact that some many people want to come and live here is very telling, we must be doing something right. Now don't be too hard on yourself, I'm sure you'll get over whatever it is that's wrong with you.
Posted by: Don B | Apr 1, 2007 6:51:45 PM

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The current president had little to do with making this country what it is today. America wasn't born yesterday. But if the Bush team trend continues people may well decide to stay where they are.

Too much of America's democracy may have been exported - leaving America with a shortage.

Mr. Andrew W. Herman, your logic is dubious.

"Pulling all troops out of the mideast and ignoring the terrorism there will not impede attacks on this country".

Why not try it? Our presence is inciting violence. Reassign troops to the borders, USA and Iraqi, and use them as the first line of defense not as baiting targets in Iraq. Our military has no concept of how to fight these scrappy street thugs. Only the Iraqis can save themselves with all necessary support.

JD...I never knew you were a commonsewer of left wing conspiracy theories, selective memories and selective facts. Theres a real life for ya!

And Don B....so proud of the impeachment of Clinton. Probably one of the most idiotic things to have been done and the republicans have paid for it and will continue to pay for it for a long long time. The defence to Bushs' bumbling and misleading us is......drum roll...........
it's not a crime...unless you get caught.

Paulo:

I said:

I will try to find out who the twelve members of the terrorist organization are. The ones that you said President Bill Clinton pardoned.

Posted by: bezelt | Apr 1, 2007 7:05:40 PM

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I did find comments on Ex President Bill Clinton's pardons. And like other presidential pardons before his, they were controversial.

But news accounts say those individuals had already served twenty years in prison before being pardoned and responsible individuals supported their release on the condition they never engage in those activities again. It was also said that the prison terms received by those individuals were longer than usual for that type of crime.

Now if the Bush team can get its targeted terrorist to be as quiet as those individuals have been, the world would be well on its way to safety. But challenging terrorist to "bring it on" just doesn't seem to be either presidential or contributing to the safety of the world.

Steve said:

"Well, we have tried harder and still all the Sunnis and Shiites seem to want to do is slaughter each other and anybody who wears an American uniform! As Loraine Ali pointed out in the 19 March 2007 issue of Newsweek, about our most significant...".

Doesn't Sunnis Vs Shiites sound like a civil war? How did that happen? The Bush team toppled the Sunni head of state and left the country to "seek its own level".

So, America is responsible for the mess the Bush team made. America wants to fix the mess that the Bush team made. But the ones who created the mess wants no outsiders to view its "handiwork". Wonder why not?

Could we have already seen the "icebergs tip"? Could it be fear of auditors? The old Congress(Republican control) already cut funds to those auditing Iraq'a arms. That would likely only make sense to the Bush team. Luckily the new Congress fixed that problem.

And there was that "well heeled" company that returned money to the government. Bet you don't see that often.

America wants to help Iraq restart its government - but why should all the inputs and controls come from the one who broke the government. They only needed "half" the manpower but they only did "half" the job.

Paulo,

Why does George W Bush allow known terrorists to live in our midst?

Why does George Bush and his family have friends who are terrorists?

http://consortiumnews.com/2006/062406.html
"For instance, the Bush administration took no action in early April 2006, when a Spanish-language Miami television station interviewed Cuban terrorist Orlando Bosch (in Miami no less), who offered a detailed justification for the 1976 mid-air bombing of a Cubana Airlines flight that killed 73 people, including the young members of the Cuban national fencing team."

"But there’s really nothing new about these two terrorists – and other violent right-wing extremists – getting protection from the Bush family.

For three decades, both Bosch and Posada have been under the Bush family’s protective wing, starting with former President George H.W. Bush (who was CIA director when the airline bombing occurred in 1976) and extending to Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and President George W. Bush.

The evidence points to one obvious conclusion: the Bushes regard terrorism – defined as killing civilians to make a political point – as justified in cases when their interests match those of the terrorists. In other words, their moral outrage is selective, depending on the identity of the victims."

Of course, this is a "lefty" article, but don't take their word on it. Just look up Cuban terrorists Orlando Bosch or Luis Possada Carriles.

Posted by: K.Becker | Mar 31, 2007 12:34:40 PM

Mr. Becker, that last time you thought about it -- what exactly were the number of casualties due to armed conflict in Germany, Japan, and Korea (and, for that matter, any of the other leftovers from the 1940's and 50's) put together? Was it even close to what we're losing in Iraq? Do the citizens of those countries consider us "occupiers" in control of their governments?

I, for one, am so glad Democrats never hide behind soldiers when trying to score politicial points. Not like the scummy Repukes.

[quote]
Here ya go BC,only it was 14 terrorists,not 12 ...sorry about that.
Oh,BC any correction on your post regarding The U.S. putting Saddam Hussein in power? You really blew that one!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1106506/posts
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | Apr 1, 2007 9:52:37 PM
[/quote}

Just like you blew it by refusing to apologize for promoting the LIE that the Hillary Clinton campaign was behind the Obama "madrassa school" smear campaign.

Unless, of course, you can post PROOF that her campaign people were really behind it...

[quote]
Here ya go BC,only it was 14 terrorists,not 12

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1106506/posts
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | Apr 1, 2007 9:52:37 PM
[/quote]

Sorry Paulo - your link is useless. It doesn't name ANY terrorists nor does it even say WHEN they were pardoned. Just pointing to a blog where someone whines that "Clinton pardoned 14 terrorists" is NOT proof that backs up your allegation.

As a self professed conniosseur of left wing conspiracy theories, selective memories and selective facts, I find bezelt's post's compelling.

Thanks bezelt for bringing us some new doozies to add to the comedy of left wing folklore.

Next thing you know revisionists will start referring to Clinton's 2000 mid east peace proposal as masterful as a Frank Lloyd Wright design.......oh wait Thomas Friedman just did.

http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/2007/03/many-plans-no-news.html

The comedy known as modern liberalism continues.

Posted by: JD | Apr 1, 2007 5:54:09 PM

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JD spoke of "selective memories". He could have had reference to what is going on in the search for the true truth about the firing of those eight attorney generals.

Even Justice Department memories seems to be "selective" or at least accommodating to the one on the "hot seat". Perhaps those "selective memories" are the reason why you can't drag a Bush team member to any location where they must swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help them God.

And there is another famous memory lapse. That's the one having to do with the pre-9/11/2001 warning message from the CIA - hand carried to the Bush team's White House. When that happened - some seven years ago the Bush team did not even remember to hold a press conference.

The document must have been in incubation/Pandora's box for years until Mr. Woodward's book "In Denial" was published.

After the book was published the Bush team took a brief moment to tell the American people it did not recall any such document from the CIA's Mr. George Tenet. And to this day(seven years later) memories seem to have forgotten to remember the question has never been answered.

It sure does look like the document question and the WMD question have fallen prey to "selective memories". I apologize to JD if my examples of "selective memory" came from the wrong political domain.
I am not sure whether JD would call these examples "selective memory" examples but they are certainly memory related. And apparently memories have either been unable or unwilling to retrieve the document in question.

Now keep in mind this document, according to Mr. George Tenet, was hand delivered to the White House TWO MONTHS prior to 9/11/2001. And all this time, memories have not been able to "fetch" this document.

Jon said:

t never ceases to amaze me. How people in this country can be so short sighted about our involvement in Iraq. The war in Iraq wasn't even hours old before the media and the Democrats were comparing it to Viet Nam and using the word quagmire to describe it. But never have they shown the good our troops have done over there. Never a word about schools, hospitals, public services or rebuidling an independent Iraq.

This Congress should be tried for treason for tying the budget to a withdrawl timetable which can only serve to send the enemy the message that we are foolish and vulnerable and all they need to do is wait and they can attack us an win.

Foolsh Lt. Col., foolsh Congress, foolish you if you buy it.
Posted by: Jon | Apr 1, 2007 1:47:11 PM

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So, it seems it's ok to go to war using WMD's that never got past the rhetoric stage. It is ok to go to war with the civilian "generals" in the foreground and the military generals in the background. It is ok when the civilian "generals" plans mess up the operation. It is ok to continue to feed lives and dollars into a plan that was supposed to have finalized in a year or so but is still in CHAOS four years later. It is ok for the civilian "generals" to allocate failures to anyone but themselves. It is ok after a horrific failure to say, your original goal, confined to one small country, now extends to where ever terrorists are.

Most people would know that if the Bush team undertook this endeavor in a civilian environment ie. for a civilian company, that company would likely be "broke" by now. But some true believers may still believe the Bush teams efforts are good enough for government work.

And this person believes the solution to this terrible mess is to use the "T" word on Congress. Perhaps this person may be interested in seeing what others think the problem is.

See it at: http://www.impeachbush.org/site/PageServer

typical democrats. they want to first fund stupid things that don't need to be at this point in time. They are once again stripping from the troops as they did in Vietnam. Then they talk about reducing the debt but taxing the people after the people are finally getting back on track after 9/11 and other times. the sending of stuff overseas. thanks democrats you will get my votes in the future I THINK NOT
Posted by: Steve | Mar 31, 2007 11:54:12 AM

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The world is always in motion. Trends and patterns pop up. Those are the indicators as to where we may be heading.

Some look at the patterns and trends and say - we are heading in the wrong direction. Others might say, I will follow no matter what. While still others might say I have no opinion so just point me in my direction. All these different ideas could spring from viewing the same conditions.

Reducing the national debt:

Is this poster concerned about America's debt? America's debt has not likely hit this poster in the pocket book yet - but a wise country tries to keep its national debt in check. The Bush team does not seem to care about the national debt.

Well, you see, America is one of the world's safest places to invest money. And that fact is not lost on the Bush team.

But Iraq shows us that the Bush team sometimes don't plan "too good". And at times the Bush team don't do diplomacy "too good" either. That combination of "not planning to good" and " not doing diplomacy too good" could be a bad combination.

Already China has revealed how many of America's companies it could buy with its current investment in America. That revelation came after the Bush team said "mine" to outer space and the Chinese government responded by using its missile technology to blow up its own satellite in the territory that was just claimed by the Bush team. The borrowed money on which the Bush team is operating may or may not always be there.

And if the Bush team did, by accident or design, bring the country back to where Republicans left it in 1932 the Republicans could perhaps redeem themselves? And perhaps they could prove that what the country needed back then was those high priced tariffs rather than social programs.

While this poster may feel that it was honorable to fund the Iraq war - a lot of Americans don't feel that way. America should be very concerned about its national debt.

When did we get out of Germany?
When did we get out of Italy?
When did we get out of Panama?
When did we get out of Japan?
When did we get out of Bosnia?
When did we get out of Korea?
When did we get out of the Philippines?

We are still there! It's been more than a measly four years since we entered those countries.