Rep. McDermott (D-WA):NOT ANOTHER DIME WITHOUT U.N. INVOLVEMENT

[baby_bear]

http://www.house.gov/mcdermott/pr030905.html
<snip>
President Bush is about to ask Congress for an additional $87 billion to continue operations in Iraq. That’s about three times the homeland security budget. It would pay for all veterans' programs and benefits for every living American veteran for 15 months. It represents every federal dollar for transportation for all of this year and the first quarter of next year. He’s asking for more than five times what we spend on public assistance for the entire United States.

I did not think the President was right to go into Iraq. Because of his actions, I believe we now have a moral responsibility to the people and future of Iraq. We cannot abandon them.

However, Congress must not give the President a blank check after the many, many missteps that have been made in Iraq. If this level of mismanagement were found in any other federal program, my colleagues would be demanding it be shut down or turned over to the states.

</snip>

McDermott is so reliable in these things. Remember when he was accused of being a traitor for saying he believed Bush would mislead the American public in order to get support for Iraqi invasion? Hah!

s_m

[stumblnrose]

1. He's my rep

Now if we could just get some jobs in Seattle things would be looking better.

[Catshrink]

2. He's always been awesome

WTG, Jim!

[kclown]

3. Send this to your representative.

"If this level of incompetence..."

Kucinich is the only one calling for immediate withdrawal.  He
should be insisting that, sooner or later, that is what will
happen and everyone knows it.

[Eloriel]

4. One small problem

And McDermott himself admits it, in a roundabout way:

I believe we now have a moral responsibility to the people and future of Iraq. We cannot abandon them.

We also can't leave our own troops out to dry.

IOW, for all the fine talk, there's no way to say no. "Not so much," perhaps, but not "No."

Eloriel

[baby_bear]

5. It's a bitch, ain't it?

Kind of like having half your body sinking in quick sand.

"Bring the troops home now" (Kucinich) makes a lot of people's eyes roll, as they realize that Bush and his accomplices (including many in Congress) have mired them in the muck.

I think, given the circumstances, McDermott's stance is the only sensible one.

But I wasn't heartened by last night's debate, wherein most candidates hid behind the need to "support the troops" and therefore give W the bucks he asks for.

puke.

s_m