Withdrawal timetable dropped from war spending bill

[seafan]

Source: CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Congressional Democrats plan to send to President Bush a war-spending bill without a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, two Democratic leadership aides tell CNN.

Earlier this month, Bush vetoed a war spending bill passed by the Democratically-controlled Congress that included a timetable for withdrawal. The president has insisted that he will not sign any bill that includes such a provision.

The bill is expected to include benchmarks that the Iraqi government would have to achieve. The bill is also expected to require the president to provide numerous reports to Congress before August 2007 on the Iraqi government's progress, the aides said.

If the Iraqi government fails to meet the benchmarks, the aides said, reconstruction funds could be cut. The bill may also allow the president to waive the penalties for failing to meet the benchmarks if he feels they are necessary.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/

---

So, Mr. Bush gets what he wants.

[Doubtful Optimist]

1. He gets his war, he gets his immigration bill...

What's Nancy going to give him next?

[lazyriver]

11. Maybe a BJ. Then we can impeach the bastard...

Sorry for the crudeness, but this really pisses me off.

Edited to add: Not your post, but the apparent appeasement of Little Lord Chimpy Nuts.

[partylessinOhio]

12. Ha! I think she already gave him that too.

She's been too enamored of him, smiling and cooing in his face.

:puke:

[rhiannon55]

2. WHY do they always give in to that bastard?

:grr:

[bdamomma]

23. this has got to stop, why doesn't he just come out and say it

oh wait he did say it,

"A dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier, there's no question about it."
Source: Business Week Online, "A Gentleman's "C" for W," Richard S. Dunham, July 30, 2001

:scared:

[riverdale]

50. I don't think it could get much easier than he's having it now

even in a dictatorship, there is some resistance

[mike_c]

3. thanks Nancy-- you're a war criminal now....

I hope Pelosi and Reid join jr and the Dick in the Hague for their crimes against humanity someday.

[anotherdrew]

42. exactly - this is just pathetic. words fail... it's beyond belief, the cowards

I actually dared to hope that something might happen, another fitzmass is all it is. more bullshit posturing to string us all along.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

4. Why not hold Dumbyass accountable

for invading Iraq on false premises?

Impeach him and his cronies NOW! :grr:

[Evergreen Emerald]

5. If this is true, I am done voting for the democrats

They were elected to DO SOMETHING.

[demnan]

6. Fucking Democrats!

I'm ready for a third party, what about you?

[Wwagsthedog]

9. Why not?

I'm so bummed out about the actions of this Congress that I just want to spit and that is the kindest thing I can think of saying.

[global1]

7. When The Dems Go Home For The Memorial Day Holiday They......

might as well just stay there. They have caved once again. All the tough talk and then they give in. Bush gets his way again. Bush wins. The minority Repugs win. The neocons win. Dick Cheney wins.

Deal with it folks - we lost. We lost in the Nov '06 election. We elected a bunch of wienies. They folded.

Now Bush can say again - well they must be for this war - they voted to give me the money to continue.

More of the same folks.

Are you happy.

And to boot - we have to pay $4.00/gallon for gas.

Rub our nose in it will you.

So - we can expect to see Bush and Cheney and Rove and Condi and Gonzo and Snow and Hannity and Rush and Coulter, etc, etc, etc - gloat once again.

600 or so more days of these criminals - at least I hope that's all. But who knows what awaits us - perhaps another stolen election. Perhaps another coincidental attack on our soil. Perhaps martial law.

Wow - something to look forward to.

Let me say this as well - it's going to be hard to even vote for a Dem in Nov 08 now - as they never do what the people want them to do.

[SpunkMonkey]

14. I agree completely...

I would have expected this from a few certain representatives, but Pelosi?! I'm waiting to hear her side of it, but there had better be a goddam good reason for this. An incredibly earth-shattering good reason. Otherwise, if the bill they send to bush indeed contains no timetable for withdrawal, I officially wash my hands of the Democratic party.

[quispquake]

17. And folks can also say...

That the Dems caved in AGAIN, and are WEAK...How the HELL are we supposed to fight this thought when our reps constantly cave in again and again???

I really thought the 2006 elections were a wakeup call...But the Dems in congress are obviously less worried about supporting their constituents than they area about supporting the Corporate Masters...

War will NEVER stop until we take the profit out of it...

I am REALLY pissed...

[terip64]

8. Flame me if you must but we do not have the votes for a timetable

and I think that it is wise to get something with at least some accountability to this president.

[GeorgeGist]

10. They don't need votes to withhold ...

funding. Bush Vetoed it, REMEMBER.
:assclowns:

[tridim]

13. There is no presidential accountability in this compromise

Zero. None.

[Richardo]

16. Just the opposite. It's ALL his baby (again).

Going along with a Democratic timetable would have meant the Dems sharing the blame for the upcoming failure ('they made me withdraw before the mission was completed').

Now? It's all his, as will be the failure and every American and Iraqi life lost. It's a political calculus, and abhorrent in light of the lives torn apart, but there it is. It's solely Bush's war, still.

[bdamomma]

25. yea, it's his war but it's our kids getting killed, for what

what was the mission again, or the job they have to get done. oh forget it. just more dead more innocent life. we have become the new nazis. yes, I am disgusted.

[global1]

26. *Co Will Use This Just As They Did The Original Permission For Him To Hold This War......

they'll just say - well the Dems voted to give us the money.

[abb9]

20. Bleak

It seems that those in power like the Democrats,who are the only ones who can stop this Arrogant
Bush cabal and his evil policies,and have neither have the power,or the will,to bring us justice in America,by impeaching this busterd and his cronies.If i knew that it would be this way I would never have voted for the Democrats.
It is looking very bleak.I will just have to ask the ancestors to stop these warmongers from opening up another front in Iran,and anywhere else.

This nut,has almost 2 more years left to create a lot of havoc in our name,and possibly endangers the whole world in a nuclear meltdown.

When we have people in these kind of positions who talks to God,and who gets divine visions.
We are in deep trouble.

Rapture,Armageddon? ?

God bless America:mad:

[bdamomma]

27. as you said "this nut" there are alot more of us than him.

[calimary]

32. Welcome to DU!

Certainly not the way I would have voted. Hmmm... come to think of it, I DIDN'T vote that way last November. I voted for the Dems to stand up to this bastard.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3276092

[harun]

97. Good article on some standing up to the task

http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hcu-ctdems-iraq-0524,0,5144146.story?coll=hc-headlines-home

[partylessinOhio]

15. What accountability? There is none.

There are no timetables to withdraw the troops to save their lives.

There are decorative benchmarks for reconstructions funds ONLY. If the benchmarks are not met - Bush can override them and spend the monies anyway.

Pelosi, Reid and the Democruts caved. Bush knew they would. He emasculated each one of them. It turns my stomach.

[DrDan]

46. and exactly where is the accountability????? even the benchmarks can be overridden

if junior so decides

what a bunch of crap . . .

[murray hill farm]

18. I am so angry, I almost cannot type.

What in the hell is the matter with them. How dare they!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why do they think they were elected??????????? Just makes me want to give up and hide under my bed....except I am too angry.

[tridim]

22. Me too, and I was a former Pelosi supporter until about 30 minutes ago.

[BELZABUBBA]

19. accountability?

<the article says bush could waive the benchmark penalties so where's the accountability?
the dems march in with a promise to change the course in iraq and then have been backing down ever since. gone is the deadline, gone are the suggested deadlines, gone will be the proposed penalties for missed benchmarks. if they do anymore threatening about anything who'se gonna believe them? we had such high hopes hung on the dems and they turned out to be a paper tiger. go get em nancy (grrrrrr) or should we say (meow please dont hurt me)
when they grow a spine then maybe they'll get the w.h. back>

[StarryNite]

49. Just a bunch of toothless kittens

bush and his regime must be rolling on the floor laughing at them and us about now. This is so depressing.

Welcome aboard BELZABUBBA. :hi:

[The Stranger]

21. Ralph Nader was right.

[Webster Green]

47. Is he running?....

I may have to vote for him again..

This is bullshit!

[Clovis Sangrail]

24. It's "just" through September

I was far from happy when I heard this, and I largely agree with the "spineless" comments about the Democrats, but learning this isn't another year long free pass made me feel somewhat less antagonistic towards them.

[anotherdrew]

43. so anohter bill will be needed BEFORE september then. as if it matters. bow down to dictator bush n/

[customerserviceguy]

85. At a hundred body bags a month

...that's another four hundred dead US service members. Maybe more, with the "surge" putting so many more of them at risk.

Will we get tired of this when the body count gets up to a full four thousand?

[bdamomma]

28. they seem to never fail from kicking us in the gut.

and watch * how he reacts now, he will proclaim himself as KING. watch the smirk too.:puke:

I am so pissed.

[Clovis Sangrail]

29. that's because they're politicians

they might be "better" than the lot they replaced... but that doesn't mean they're "good".

[Alexander]

30. Remind me again why we elect these people?

Something about the public interest?

[bleedingheart]

31. you know...I am really hoping the DNC calls me to ask fo rmoney

cuz I am going to tell them to pound salt up their ass until they end this war....

[lupita]

37. No need to shoot the poor caller though n/t

[bleedingheart]

38. I am always very polite to the caller...

I just tell them very nicely that I won't give and why...

I had the last telemarketer tell me that a lot of folks agreed with me...

[liberal N proud]

33. Congress just made themselves NULL and VOID

They might as will pack up and go home. They have all clean up with outrageous salaries and can live like fat cats while the people struggle to make enough to eat. They just gave the regime carte blanc on anything it wants.

What do we need Congress for, they don't represent the PEOPLE!


Sorry, I am just a little pissed off at the way this nation just keeps driving toward that cliff, I think we have two wheels over the edge at this point.

[Sherman A1]

35. Agreed and Well Said.

And thanks for puttting as you did. I'm just more that ticked off about this one.

:argh:

[anotherdrew]

44. it's time for a real revolution in this god damned country

the system is broke and it aint gonna get fixed

[irish.lambchop]

34. I just finished my phone calls to

Speaker Pelosi, Congressman Hoyer, and Senator Byrd (my representative) - spoke to staffers in each office. Expressed my outrage and said that perhaps the reason I could not speak directly with these people is that they were fucking enlisting at their local recruitment office so others could come home and that the people SPOKE in November of last year - did NO ONE HEAR! I am so pissed beyond belief!

[Massachusetts]

36. Simply Stated: Taxation WITHOUT Representation

SOUNDS AWFUL FAMILIAR DOESN'T IT. What's going to tip the barrel this time?

[rhiannon55]

39. Why is it that WE can see the Bushies for the dangerous psychos they are

while our representatives go on trying to work with them? The disconnect is unbelievably huge.

Why can't someone in a position of power (Nancy P?) have the guts to call a spade a spade--or in this case, call a psycho a psycho?

:mad: :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

[HuffleClaw]

40. for the love of Miffy, WHY????

it makes no sense at all. none.

[IndianaGreen]

41. Munich 1938

Democrats have become enablers of the Bush dictatorship by failing to impeach the biggest war criminal of the 21st century.

[DrDan]

45. bastards . . . they have a long hill to climb before they re-earn my vote

[EndElectoral]

48. This is a sad day to be a Democrat. I wish they'd grow a set and stand up to the madman

[whopis01]

51. Democrats Drop Troop Pullout Dates From Iraq Bill

Source: NY Times

WASHINGTON, May 22 — Congressional Democrats relented today on their insistence that a war spending measure sought by President Bush also set a date for withdrawing troops from Iraq. The decision to back down, described by senior lawmakers and aides, was a wrenching reversal for some Democrats, who saw their election triumph as a call to force an end to the war. A Democratic effort to include timelines prompted Mr. Bush’s veto of the original bill last month, producing a political impasse.

The Democratic leaders’ concession infuriated one of their own, Senator Russell D. Feingold of Wisconsin, who failed last week in his attempt to win passage of a measure that would have cut off money for the war next spring.

“I cannot support a bill that contains nothing more than toothless benchmarks and that allows the president to continue what may be the greatest foreign policy blunder in our nation’s history,” he said. “There has been a lot of tough talk from members of Congress about wanting to end this war, but it looks like the desire for political comfort won out over real action. Congress should have stood strong, acknowledged the will of the American people, and insisted on a bill requiring a real change of course in Iraq.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/22/washington/22cnd-cong.html?ei=5065&en=2d27446ebbab5252&ex=1180497600&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print

---

WTF? Will no one stand up to this administration???

[KennedyGuy]

52. well..Chimpy is at 28 % approval..

God knows how perilous it is to stand up to that.

[seven79]

79. I'm just a girl with no military training, but it seems like a really stooooopid idea

... to let your enemy know exactly when you plan to stop supplying your troops with food, weapons, etc.

that is . . . unless youre playing both sides of the field! :evilgrin:


sincerely seven

[junior college]

80. Who's the enemy?

We started firing weapons at innocent men, women and children. After that, some people got mad at us and formed a resistance to our unwarranted
aggression. America has been a very naughty child and she needs a time out. Instead, the Democrats plopped him down in front of Elmo.

[seven79]

92. What part of 9-11-2001 don't you understand?

3,000 innocent americans dead.

i guess it all depends on which side youre on.

regardless of which side youre on, it's still a stoooopid idea.


:patriot:

~~~~~

[SOS]

94. Reporter: "What did Iraq have to do with 9/11?"

George W. Bush: "Nothing".

There's a quote you probably didn't see on Fox News.

[seven79]

95. Sept. 11 bin Laden al qaeda war on terror

p.s. regardless of which side youre on, it's still a really stoooopid idea to tell your enemy in advance when youre gonna stop supplying your troops.

[SOS]

96. "Sept. 11 bin Laden al qaeda war on terror"

Stringing together buzzwords is not a position. It's meaningless, uninformed drivel.
Iraq was not involved in 9/11.
Why did Bush invade the wrong country?
Do you think FDR should have declared war on China after Pearl Harbor?

The elected government in Iraq requested a date for US military withdrawal this month.
Do you believe in democracy? Is the government of Iraq our enemy?

And implying that anyone here is "on the side" of Al Qaeda and bin Laden is simply disgusting.
I live in Manhattan and watched 9/11 with my own eyes, so don't even try it.

PS: enjoy your stay at DU.

[EndElectoral]

53. I am really disgusted right now. A timetable should be a minimum. Pretty disheartening.

[deacon]

54. Dems cave-- as usual n/t

[Yukari Yakumo]

55. To be honest...

Option 1 -- Timetable for withdrawal that Chimpy doesn't have to follow.
Option 2 -- Benchmarks for progress in Iraq that Chimpy doesn't have to follow.
Option 3 -- Nothing at all.

As long as it's not Option 3, I'll be satisfied.

[whopis01]

61. but that ain't whats going to happen....

The agreement being reached is to give Bush everything he wants and just make him pay $9 billion more in "defence-related" spending and veterans' care than he wanted along with $8 billion more for domestic programs.

The $100+ billion for his illegal war? Sure, go right ahead... don't worry about those pesky timetables for ending it.

[librechik]

56. still not good enough--bend over and wiggle your wienies!

and Shrub MIGHT, I say MIGHT sign it...

Oops, Nancy hasn't got one. Sorry folks, the Dems are just going to let the soldiers go hungry!

[IndianaGreen]

57. Are those white flags I see being waved by Pelosi and Reid?

How they compare with the American flags on the coffins of those that will die in Iraq because the Democrats failed to say "NO!" to Bush's war?

[geomon666]

58. Yep, it's another...

[Danmack]

59. Well I guess we now know who blinked first...

Pisses me off....x(

[murray hill farm]

60. Which Senators voted for this???

or was their a vote????? Did they figure a way not to show just who betrayed us?

[trashcanistanista]

68. The vote will be

Thurs or Fri. I'm sure names will be taken then.

[Cronopio]

72. I'd like to see that list permanently added to the DU home page.

Just to help us remember.

[StarryNite]

62. We're living in the Twilight Zone

I'm sure of it now.

[MzShellG]

66. Or the Matrix.......nt

[msongs]

63. Reid and Pelosi wave the YELLOW flag nt

[whopis01]

71. exactly. n/t

[baldguy]

64. It's like they think they're dealing with honest & honorable people in the Republican party.

The Dem leadership has to learn once and for all that the GOP will give NOTHING in return for this. If it would give them power back, the 'pukes would rip out Reid's heart & drink his blood.

Once the Dems understand that the GOP is out to kill them, maybe they'll act accordingly.

[RadiDem]

65. What chickenshits! Damn I wish Russ was running

[noel adamson]

67. That's what their corporate masters pay them for.

[Dulcinea]

98. Bingo!

Much as I hate to say it, we'll never, ever leave Iraq. There's too much money to be made there, plus controlling Iraq is the key to controlling the entire Middle East.

As always, follow the money.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

69. Badly mismanaged, Reid needs to step-down for someone more articulate.

[keopeli]

70. Alternate headline: Democrats lose 08 election to Republics 18 months before vote. nt

[maddogesq]

73. Headline should read:

Dems Drop Trou, Bend Over

Disgusting...absolutely disgusting.

[Zenlitened]

74. Pelosi: "I would never vote for such a thing."

10:15pm ET update of NYT article now includes:

... many Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, indicated that they would not support the war money, meaning that a significant number of Republicans would have to sign on to ensure the plan’s approval.

Ms. Pelosi made clear that if money for the war was going to be provided without a timeline for withdrawal, it would be without her personal support. “I would never vote for such a thing,” Ms. Pelosi said as she entered the office of Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, to put the final touches on the $120 billion proposal.

Link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/23/washington/23cong.html?hp

[unkachuck]

75. co-equal branch....

....my ass, these Dems can't do shit even when they're in control of both houses, remember that next time you vote....

....isn't there any Dem leader on Capital Hill that knows how to squeeze the opposition into submission or at least buy them off?....oh wait, you have to WANT to do that....

....cut the damn funding off for this illegal, immoral, unecessary war and end the goddam thing....bushcos in 20s, and these limp-dicks are helpless and impotent; un-fuckin' real....

[Bigmack]

76. Eunuchs, geldings...

capons, neuters, castrati.....

[PFunk]

77. It's because of this I'm changing my pref from dem to indie.

Maybe if the dems see alot of people doing this then IT MIGHT tell them something. But i doubt it. It starting to look like the democratic party is becomeing the old (pre-fundy) republican party now.

Damn.

[Quantess]

78. Fucking Pathetic.

Sorry for the language.

[gort]

81. How many more must die Senators?

The Republicans say:"We have to fight them over there,so we dont have to to fight them over here!" .

My questions to the Democrats is:"How many more soldiers must die over there until you've got enough votes, or the balls, to bring them home here where they belong?"

[jollyreaper2112]

82. I heard this on the radio last night

One of the pukes was commenting on this. "I am happy that we have a clean bill without surrender dates." I about punched a hole in my steering wheel. God, it's like we're handing them all the talking points and just sit there and take it like McFly.

[psychopomp]

83. Probably the most important story for D's since the election

and only two recommendations for the Greatest Page? If nothing else, this thread should be a place for Dems to vent and offer opinions on how this train-wreck might have happened.

[Naipes]

84. NO Backbone!

This is why the Democrats lose elections. They blink. They fail to come through in the clutch. I can't believe this shit. They're no different than the damn republicans. Why do they think they got elected in 2006? This is disgusting.

[rhiannon55]

86. Off to the greatest page

We need to vent and vent and vent, and then vote the pro-war dems and repukes OUT.

[nitestar41]

87. This was almost predictable...

Unfortunately.

Yes, Bush gets what he wants, but look at it another way too. If the Democrats didn't give in and let Bush have this how long would it take for any "real" work to get done. I almost feel like I'm playing Devil's Advocate by saying this. I feel we need to leave Iraq. I don't think we belong there in the first place. If Bush didn't get his way, how do we know there wouldn't have been a temper-tantrum thrown? He could have stopped every bill that went across his desk that was drawn up by a democrat. Unfortunately the odds of over-riding any veto are slim at best because they require more votes then we have. The Republicans don't "have" to kiss the American publics butts for another few months, they can still afford to stand by their *boy*. For now they do what they have to to keep our government from coming to a complete stand still. This doesn't mean that they can't come back to this issue at a later date. Don't lose hope, sooner or later the Republicans that want to save their butts will side with the Democrats. But for now they have nothing to lose, their jobs are safe for the moment and they have one of their own in charge.

We may have gained control of the House and the Senate but we have not gained enough to keep our goverment running no matter what the President decides to veto.

I hate being Devil's advocate, I know how it makes me sound. But I don't want our country to stop moving almost as much as I want our troops to come home.

[conspirator]

88. Once again bush f*ucks America in the ass nt

[seven79]

93. You say that like it's a bad thing.

:yoiks:

[Maggie_May]

89. I am going to watch this vote carefully

If the think I am going to support any Democrat that supports Bush's aimless war there nuts! I am done after getting them in office they turn around and stab us in the back who needs a party like that. What makes them think that Bush will not veto it in September the argonaut bastard. How many more Innocent lives have to die for are stupid mistake.
Very pissed off!

[ProudDad]

90. You can register your contempt for them here:

http://www.democrats.com/iraq-vote-pledge

[DuaneBidoux]

91. Sometimes Dems make the Repukes Point for them: We tend to roll over.

And sometimes this frustrates the shit out of me. If we can't stick up for our own soldiers what should make anyone think we wouldn't roll over for a real enemy of the country if we come under attack?

Our Congressional leaders have acted like total wusses. I don't want to hear fucking excuses.