Reid: Bush war claims are 'all hype'

the commander-in-chief “is not leveling with the American people.”

No kidding...how about the new NIE report? Far scarier is that Wolfowitz is back in the State Dept...thanks to Condi!

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0344774120071204

Harry Reid says that people know how he feels about the President's credibility, but I am always wondering if he ever considers what the troops out there in the battlefield think about his credibility. Between Harry Reid and John Murtha, I am having a hard time figuring out which of these two the troops despise more. Both could care less about supporting the troops and giving them the funding that they need. All Reid and Murtha want to do is politize the war, belittle the troops and make the President look back. Both Reid and Murtha are national disgraces and should be trounced out of their respective offices come the next time they are up for re-election.

“I don't think the president is going to sign a bill that, in effect, substitutes Congress judgment for General Petraeus judgment, as to how to manage the war,”

It is not congresses job to "manage" the war. It is their job and their right to "end" the war. Especially when it was discovered that we went to war on false pretenses. Declare "Mission Accomplished" (again) and bring them home.

460 billion. Let's just say that again. 460 billion. To be in a war that is all about profit for a small number of business men who have a special relationship with this corrupt president,is impossible! It is so difficult to make decisions about this war because regardless of each decision, the troops are the ones who continue to be victimized by this presidents power mongering and greed. If we don't give more, those who are really doing their jobs like our soldiers, may be hurt, but if we do give it, the president and his cronies will pocket much of it for their own. It has been so easy for them to do. Billions of dollars have already gone missing, with no record as to where the money is. This is the incredibly frustrating part of the whole mess, trying to do what is right even though we are dealing with an incredibly corrupt government. How can we hold them accountable?

We wouldn't be having this problem if Dr. Paul was president. Instead, we'd be securing our borders so we really COULDN'T get attacked over here. Think of all the high paying jobs available rebuilding our infrastructure we could have if only we were more focused on the US instead of being busybody of the world.

Hey layoffs happen in the private sector all the time. Maybe its time to shed some of the bloated defense contractors from the Pentagon as well. Too bad for our sorry-assed excuse for a commander in chief.

I say cut off the funding for all operations in the big sand pit except for bringing them home.

Yes, let Ron Paul run the show. I may not agree with all his politics, but he's saner than most of what passes for Republicans these days.

I find it (as an outsider) absolutely incredible that in America there seems to be no outrage at the continuous defense of 'having the generals run the war'. In just about every other country except those run by juntas the politicians are in control of the military, not the other way around. Generals do not make policy, politicians do.

Democrats, show some guts and stand up to this incompetent executive branch and end this war now. Don't fund it one more penny. Support the troops by bringing them home safely right now.

Reid and the president's arguments over whether the surge is "working" is completely irrelevant. The invasion and occupation of Iraq is morally WRONG. It should never have occurred, even if the US stood to gain from it. The US is responsible for destroying that country and killing hundreds of thousands of people in the country, none of whom were any threat to us. What the US did was criminal.

The Bush administration doesn't want to attach a scale down date because they know that defeating the terrorist is a never-ending battle, yet they claim they can do it. There will always be terrorists searching for ways to attack America. And now after 6 years of fighting we are not anymore secure. The trillions of dollars dumped into the war should have been directed toward advancing our intelligence to watch the terrorist actions but the republicans know we can surveil terrorist because it is impossible to identify them all. So if we can surveil them, how can we defeat them in a war?

The only thing that will make Reid and the Democrats happy will be America's defeat in Iraq. What a sad commentary about an American political party.

As another observer of American behavior from the outside, I am torn between feeling bad for the US troops, the US taxpayers, and the Iraqi people, all of whom have been hit hard by Bush's bungled policies.

I'm blown away that he hasn't been impeached. The US nearly did with Clinton, and he was guilty of a far lesser series of offences.

Weapons of Mass Destruction? It's a slam-dunk.
Mobile laboratories? Weather stations.
We will be greeted with flowers? Try improvised explosive devices.
The cost will be minimal and oil revenues will pay for it all? 460 Billion and no end in sight.
And what about Osama bin Laden? Still on the lam in Pakistan.
This administration has launched an unjustified war in Iraq, promoted with lies and hype and hypocrisy.
Saddam is a very bad man!True, but for a long time he was "our bad man", and he received considerable support from previous administrations until he went too far by invading Kuwait.
The list of the Bush administration misjudgments, misrepresentations, and incompetencies is lengthy. It is time to put some kind of limits on this administration, which has done great harm to our democracy, our standing in the world, and our fiscal solvency. Enough.

2 points to consider:
1. Republicans always point out that Democrats are challanging the judgement of Military leaders in the field. In fact, they are pointing out the poor judgement of THE MILITARY LEADER who has absolutely no leadership skills in a military arena. Guess who?
2. Supporting the troops by ensuring more of them make it home alive is better then sending them a ton o' money for a war with no end in sight. Perhaps it should be considered that the president isn't supporting the troops, by making them continue to fight to prove a political point rather than act a responsible leader as he should and try a more policy driven solution to this issue.
Altogether, there seems to be a vacuum of real leadership in this administration. Just alot of "hunches" and "thoughts" with no facts that are not state secrets to back them up. Sound Orwellian?

Harry Reid says somebody ELSE has little credibility?

Harry Reid? Land grab Harry? Phony senate finance filing Harry?

What next? Rex Grossman accusing some OTHER QB of being inconsistent?

How long can the American people stand for this power struggle? Bush wants more money for the war, and won't pass any bills until he gets the money. Congress won't give it too him, and keeps trying to pass laws that will get vetoed. Their is a war at home and the American people are suffering the consequences of the politicians actions. And the public is hoping for some type of compromise.

Harry Reid = Al Qaeda's friend in the Senate. That makes him America's enemy.

Translation: haliburton is jonesing and needs a fix

It is good to see the Democrats FINALLY doing what we elected them to do; standing up and saying no to Bush.

"..McConnell said, now is the wrong time for Congress to claim a role in military strategy."

When would constitute a "Right time" for congress to even understand, nevermind "claim a role" in military strategy? I quote here with ref. to http://congress.indiana.edu/scripts/facts_of_congress/what_would_congress_do.php

#1: Congress passes laws.

From how fast you can drive on highways to whether basset hounds should have a national holiday.

#2: Congress decides how to spend our money.

Should we spend our money to go to outer space or to build more national parks?

#3. Congress shapes foreign policy.

The President may be the "Commander in Chief" of the military, but it's Congress that has the power to declare war.

Congress also deals with things like trade policy and (sic)foriegn aid.

Go figure..

Funny how Bush pounds his fists about Congress not doing it's job but vetoes everything they pass. Congress' job is to pass bills. That's what they're doing. But since they're not passing exactly what Bush wants, they're somehow not doing their job. But hey, since the Dems won't bow to Bush's desires like the Republicans used to, they're obviously the bad guys here.

Question: How is getting the troops home, out of the line of fire "against" them?

Now that everyone in the WORLD can see just what corrupt politicians like Bush are all about, his next step? Make criticizing (or even thinking about criticizing) the Government (or even the FDA) ILLEGAL

http://www.newstarget.com/022308.html

http://www.newstarget.com/022320.html

This is not about the Democrats standing up, this is about WE THE PEOPLE STANDING UP - there are two choices: Liberty or Slavery. It is Freedom or Dictatorship. Violence won't help because it will only give the Government more of an excuse to impose fascism. We must educate everyone instead. People will make the right decisions and will finally appreciate the things that our fathers fought for. Remember: everyone who sign the Declaration of Independence would have been hung as a traitor had the US lost the Revolutionary War - no "safe" world is worth fighting for. Give me Liberty or Give me Death!

Ron Paul for President!

"The only thing that will make Reid and the Democrats happy will be America's defeat in Iraq..." while Bush or any Republican is in the White House. The real "sad commentary" and dirty little secret is that they would love to saddle the Republicans with a military defeat and subsequent chaos in the Middle East, but if we are still there in '08 and a Democrat wins the White House, we won't be leaving anytime soon. Treasonously partisan, but not stupid.

I can't beleive we re-elected this guy. I can't beleive he hasn't at least been impeached. I can't beleive he has the balls to demand all that money no strings attached. What happened to america!!! Did everyone here forget what america stand for. its sad. I'm proud to be an american, but I can't afford to be one much longer, because this pointless war is driving up the cost!!!

May I please have some of whatever it is Mr. Carl Gullang is smoking?

The list of crimes for which this President and Vice President could be impreached for is lengthy, they have zero credibility.

Who here still gives credibility to ANYTHING that Bush says? This is the same person that told us there were WMD's in Iraq. He told us that the oil in Iraq would be used to pay for the war.

Under his administration we have seen a severe decline of the dollar while watching the national debt skyrocket. We have seen a housing bubble burst due to mismanagement of interest rates and sub-prime mortgages.

We've seen CIA agent Plame's identity leaked to the media possibly from his office or at his direction.

We've seen Katrina victims be ignored, left on their rooftops for days while GB twiddled his thumbs. Even today those people are still in total devastation. Thank Brad Pitt for going down there to help those people, not GB and the American Government. FEMA is a laughing stock with the way they have mismanaged this disaster. Millions of dollars worth of food and trailers that literally just went to waste.

Bush has instructed all the major telecommunications companies (AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, Sprint) to conduct illegal wiretaps without signed warrants on innocent, unsuspecting Americans. We already know this information ISN'T being used for terrorism. Just Google it. Our local police departments have arrested two separate individuals for sex crimes using the information available from the Telecommunications companies. While sex crimes are bad, they are NOT terrorism and the Government has no right to listen in on calls and text messages.

Seriously.. Who actually gives this guy ANY credit? 100 years ago this guy would have been strung up at the gallows, but today, we are apathetic and as long as we can sit on our cushy couches and watch our big screen TV's we don't care.

Shame on us.

Hey Fillmore,

What we have if we "won" and what we have if we "lose"? Wise up, we are are not in this war to defeat any army, we are in this war to insure BP and Dutch Shell that they have rights to the Iraqi oil. Or haven't you figured that out yet.

Jake

"THANK YOU HARRY REID" AND LONG LIVE NANCY PELOSI!

It's not a power struggle, it's a good and evil struggle. Bush and his Quagmire of a Cabinet, has Augmentated the voice of America. TWO BOOBS running the country into a peril of destruction.

THIS GOP AND THE WHAT ARE NOW KNOWN AS THE BLUE DOGS IN CONGRESS ARE FOLLOWING LOCK STEP INTO BUSH/CHENEY LAW.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO JUST WAKE UP TO THE COUP DE CONSTITITION, COUP DE MEDIA, COUP DE EDUCATION, COUP DE NATIONALITY AND COUP DE THE AMERICAN SPIRIT NEED TO WAKE UP AND SEE IF YOU STILL HAVE ANY OF THE ABOVE!

FOX REFUSED TO SHOW THE CONSTITUTION ON THEIR CHANNEL, SO WHAT IS THAT. NO WHAT IS THAT. NO BIGGIE!

I'm glad Bush takes "thou shalt not kill" and "thou shalt not steel" so seriously, ha ha. At least he isn't having an affair with another guy like the rest of the Repubes...yet. God bless our hero! ha ha ha. I can't believe anybody still takes Bush seriously.

The United States is broken and very close to bankruptcy. Once the largest lender nation, we're on the brink. Bush and his oil-hungry gang are responsible. Protect our citizens by ridding the world of terrorists? Come on, who could really believe that?
What was so totally wrong about starting at home?
To call this situation "bungled" is a gross kindness.

Yes, Impeach Bush and all the republicans who stand by him.Iraqs peoples is more important to them than us, So what if congress add more to the bill, children health,tax relief for the middle class, fixing the highway an bridges, helping the american people is not on his list.bring ours troops home, WE The People Is Your Boss! Not the Irag People?

The arguments between Bush and the Dems like Reid over whether the surge is "working" is completely irrelevant. The war and occupation are morally wrong. It doesn't matter whether the US wins or loses. The US is responsible for destroying a country and killing thousands of Iraqis, none of whom were a threat to the US.

If Ron Paul does not get on the ballot for our next presidential election then I'm afraid there is nobody else I'd want to vote for. None of the other candidates (in either party) are willing turn this country around and bring back the original constitutional rights for our citizens. I'm ashamed to admit I voted for Bush but as in so many elections in the past, it was a matter of choosing the lessor of the evils.

Well take out the part about bringing the troops home and slip in a confession on war crimes, crimes against humanity and treason. Lets see if bush will sign that!

We've become a nation of apathetic winers. The numbers and even the hidden page 36 news articles show Petraeus is slowly grinding up Al Queda and the Bathist remnants. Freedom and oppurtunity will come to Iraq;maybe not as "pure" as ours,but, we are not the only people entitled to hard won freedom. The liberal pinheads hate the fact that you sometimes have to fight for it, not every nation wants to group hug, and talk reality with us. Talk is cheap to our avowed enemies, yes, Virginia we have enemies !

As a unemployed engineer whose job got sold to India, I have this to say.

I am a lifelong Democrat. I have always voted Democrat, and the last eight years have been an excellent reason why. The improvements and prosperity this country enjoyed under Bill Clinton have now all either been repealed or sucked dry for this current "bush-league" excuse for a president and his corrupt old-money cronies who stole the election in the Supreme Court. If we had a Democrat in the White House during 9/11, we would have avoided wasting trillions in a perpetual and ideological war that benefits only our military-industrial complex. We could instead have rebuilt our worn out infrastructure, economy, and jobs base back to the point where worn out and cast aside people like me would consider the country to again be worth defending. Invoking patriotism without maintaining our patrimony is a cynical, hollow, and empty gesture.

If anyone has a job for a software design with more than 15 years experience, but who has been laid off for at least two years with no prospect of finding any work due to rampant age discrimination, please email i_am_useful@yahoo.com

Condi Rice said we shouild topple Saddam in order to stop Iraq from threatening its neighbors. Mission accomplished.

To carl,

You sir, have to be one of the most ignorant people alive in this country. To sit there and say congress doesn't care is absurd. If there is one person who doesn't care about the troops its the president. He has steadfastly refused to remove troops from a war they no longer want to be in! Watch the news and listen to how many people want our troops to come home and end this pointless loss of lives. Unlike yourself I served in Operation Iraqi Freedom back in 04. Congress has done everything they can to get our troops out of there. If you feel the need to blame someone blame republicans who have once again shown that they're spineless and will do anything they can to prevent the democrats from having their way.

Disgusts me that this man is still in power....Barack for president next year people!

Wouldn’t it be a lot easer to have some psychologist declare bush “a danger to himself and others”, cart him off to a loony bin and give him a free set of the psychotropic drugs he liked to take in collage.

A wasted mind is a terrible thing too.

The war in Iraq is complicated by many factors. Certainly we have a national interest in stability in the Middle East as well as our necessity for oil. Many opinions appear to be based on all or none thinking without taking into consideration the multi -factored nature of the problem. It is possible to partially withdraw to Kuwait and determine the effects of our withdrawl without leaving ouselves and the Irag's in a precarious situation. Though I am philisophically against the war it is past the point of whether it was legitimate or not. At this juncture it is best to expand our solutions to allow for flexibility base on the effects of any decision we make.

I agree with steve bromberg. All the democrats need to do is write up a bill that includes withdrawal of mercenaries and contractors, not combat troops. These people are the reason so much money is being spent in the war, and the reason why it's dragging on longer than it needs to. Bush will be screwed politically either way, and he cannot use this excuse that democrats are not supporting the troops.

I applaud congress for standing up to Bush. Finally they are doing what they were elected to do. All the hype about not supporting the troops, please !!! After all the money that has been spent at the expense of the American taxpayer and the American economy, the only ones who are solvent are the big businesses who are friends of the president. Enough is enough!!
I guess that I agree with an earlier post... I am completely blown away that Bush has not been impeached... At least President Clinton's transgression did not cost American lives.

I applaud congress for standing up to Bush. Finally they are doing what they were elected to do. All the hype about not supporting the troops, please !!! After all the money that has been spent at the expense of the American taxpayer and the American economy, the only ones who are solvent are the big businesses who are friends of the president. Enough is enough!!
I guess that I agree with an earlier post... I am completely blown away that Bush has not been impeached... At least President Clinton's transgression did not cost American lives.

The congress isn't supposed to make decisions. That's a good one!

Fillmore wrote:The only thing that will make Reid and the Democrats happy will be America's defeat in Iraq.

Then in your estimate, at what cost should America continue to pursue "victory" - whatever that shifting goal post means? At any or at all costs?

It's not only Democrats, but Independents, and Republicans who are awaiting this answer. Americans are entirely justified in believing that we've already waited too long.

I too agree with Steve & Daniel. It should piss us all off, that when there's a threat of restricted funding you don't hear 1 THING about the contractors not getting paid! Bush is going to protect Erik Prince's cashflow at ANY cost to American lives, you can count on that. This is yet another article of proof to that assertion.

Oh and by the way, "John D" that insipid approach of trying to tell us that going up against the Bush Administration means you're a friend of the terrorists is transparent & done. It worked in the 2004 elections but everyone sees through it now.
It's highly laughable that everyone else is a friend of Al Qaeda except the man who let their leader go and then gave them a whole country to train in.

That's why I love the American government. The almighty fail-safe of checks and balances. Too bad there are no more "real" political parties, then we might actually have a diverse government. "Freedom (Democracy)" will never come to Iraq as long as Iran remains Shi'ite and the Shi'ites in southern Iraq maintain the oil fields. If we found a way to conflict with Iran, we would have an excuse to attack the Shi'ites in southern Iraq then to annex oil fields. So don't believe Bush's anti-Iran hype, because it is not "level." I also agree with Reid when he wants to give smaller amounts to the troops. It puts a shorter leash on this war. Fail-safes are not a bad thing people.

Bruce,
For godsakes leave Grossman out of this

Harry Reid is a joke and so is his sidekick Dickie Durbin.
Neither one of these Democrats care about victory in Iraq and the War on Terror. If they did they would fund our brave men and women in the military so General Patraues can complete our victory.
These two whiners are hurting America's future and they don't care because they are partisan Democrats clutching on to their power.
With Reid and Durbin and Nancy Pelosi it's all about them they don't care what happens to America only keeping their power.
These are dangerous times with these people legislating for themselves. Jerry White, Springfield, IL

Impeachment is the answer. Period. We have war criminals running our country. We need to put them in jail and we need a unequivocal message sent by the American people that we will never tolerate anything like this again.

The most frightening item I read was that Wolfowitz was now in the State Department. How someone so discredited at the World Bank could have made this move is beyond belief. Most have the real goods on someone!

It's amazing to see all the pro Democracy and pro America voices when the Tribsters decide not to block us.

The 24%ers the Preznit have lied for so long and so often, their 'credibility' is gone. We're all ready to move on, but we have the Republics blocking the way. Please remember who's holding things up come 2008.

Just read an article where a democrat voiced concern about her re-election because a military base in her district has grown. The troops know Bill could have solved the eventual need for war before he left office but then he wouldn't have been popular with the UN profiteers.

Whatnow:

How could Bill have solved the eventual need for war - whatever that is? And what Democrat voiced concern about her reelection because of a military base?

"I find it (as an outsider) absolutely incredible that in America there seems to be no outrage at the continuous defense of 'having the generals run the war'. In just about every other country except those run by juntas the politicians are in control of the military, not the other way around. Generals do not make policy, politicians do."

Well, Mr. Mattheij, I have news for you. The politicians have been making policy in this country since the beginning, and unfortunately this administration, which couldn't find its ass with both hands, has been "making policy" also.

I am puzzled that you think the generals are controlling the show. If they were, we'd be out of Iraq already.

Civilian control of the military is written into the US Constitution. The only problem with that is that this administration has been completely corrupt from day one. Their only interest was lining their pockets, because they never intended to govern, and in fact have never had the ability to do so.

Hey Carson, since Bill Clinton was the one who let bin Laden go several times and let him train in Afghanistan, I guess you are implying that Bill Clinton is a friend of Al Qaeda?

As remarks fly pro and con,with little or no proof to there validity on both sides; I find it hard to believe any of this dribble.If you truly think congress is doing such a great job, you must be blind to what they haven't done. If you truly believe that any Democrat or Republican is telling you the truth then your not listening very close. If you truly believe that all our Military Forces are requesting that congress bring them all home before they finish their mission then you were smoking dope with Bush and Clinton. If you truly believe that only Bush and Republicans are getting rich from this war and not a single Democrat is involved in this scam then you must be sleeping with an elected Democrat in Washington DC.

You know, the English Civil War was started by a King (Commander-in-Chief) that wanted to fight a war that Parliament did not want and did not want to finance. When poor King Charlie didn't get his money he prorogued Parliament and sent them home - 3 Times - and in the end started a disastrous war and ended up draining the natioal coffers.

Moral of the story: Charles and Parliament continued to disagree over the war(s) and who had the right to wage said wars, and who had to pay for the war, that in the end Charles (and his Divine Right Theory) were removed from power by Parlaiment and an Axe.

bu$h is acting on bad or outdated intelligence, both from his staff, and his brain.

Two Republican lawmakers are calling the Bush administration's bluff in the battle over Iraq war legislation.

President Bush and other top administration officials have threatened to furlough 200,000 Pentagon employees if Democrats do not meet Bush's requests for war funding.

But in a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Virginia Republicans Tom Davis and Frank Wolf say the administration's threat is baseless, because the Pentagon has the authority to make shifts in its budget to avoid forcing employees to take leaves of absences.

Noting the billions of dollars the Defense Department has at its discretion, Davis and Wolf say they "adamantly disagreed" with Gates' assessment that payroll freezes may be needed.

"We understand that the Army will face funding shortfalls if the President and the Congress cannot resolve the impasse over the fiscal year 2008 war funding," the letter reads. "We believe, however, that the Department of Defense has an obligation to use every tool at its discretion not to furlough civilian or contract employees."

The letter -- also signed by Reps. Jim Moran, D-VA, Chris Van Hollen, D-MD, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-MD, Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-DC, John Sarbanes, D-MD, and Elijah Cummings, D-MD -- comes less than a month after Congress passed a $459 billion defense spending bill. The Pentagon has "general transfer authority of $3.7 billion" and can also reallocate $8 billion of "excess working capital fund cash" to meet other budget, the letter states.

Citing this monetary flexibility, Rep. Moran labeled Gates' doomsday furlough proclamation an "old budget showdown tactic." Indeed, President Bush, himself, has been ramping up the rhetoric, repeatedly warning of severe damages to the Defense Department in the absence of an agreement on Iraq War funds.

"Given that the administration's threats were announced on the heels of Congress passing the largest defense spending bill ever, their cries of poor mouth raise a red flag the size of the North Pole," Moran said.

Congress and the White House are currently at an impasse over Iraq War funding. The House of Representatives recently passed a $50 billion supplemental measure that contains the goal of troop withdrawal by 2008. Senate Republicans filibustered the measure and President Bush, who requested $196 billion, said he would not sign it.

At a press conference in mid-November, a Pentagon spokesman said that without resolution between the two parties, the Army would have to cease all base operations and furlough "about 100,000 government employees and a like number of contractor employees at Army bases." A few days later, Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard Cody ordered commanders to prepare plans for widespread layoffs of civilian personnel in the absence of war funding.

Justice will be served when George Walker Bush and his Corrupt Administration are hauled off to the Hague Netherlands and charged as the War Criminals that they are. George Walker Bush is the biggest joke to ever serve as President of the United States as well as being a lying Scumbag.

George Walker Bush was a lie from the beginning as he was portrayed to be a Uniter and as well as a born again Christian. He has proven to be a divider and a liar and a disgrace as even claiming to be a Christian.

May George Walker Bush and his Corrupt Administration all burn in Hades as they are not qualified to enter the realms of Heaven. Their souls all belong to the Devil for their lies and sins on this earth.

mcbs wrote:

"bu$h is acting on bad or outdated intelligence... from his... brain."

This is flat-out NOT TRUE!

That would imply that Bush HAS some intelligence in his brain!