GOP senators to attack Reid in August

[babylonsister]

I hope he cancels their summer vacation. Oh, wait. They'll start their attack while ON vacation.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070724/NATION/107240074/1001

GOP senators to chide Reid

By S.A. Miller
July 24, 2007


Senate Republicans are preparing to take aim at Majority Leader Harry Reid over the August recess for being "all talk but no action" and helping drag the Democrat-led Congress' approval rating to a historic low, according to a document distributed to caucus members.

Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, is meeting with members yesterday and today to disseminate a message critical of Democrats for endlessly debating the Iraq war, stalling judicial nominations and squandering time on at least 300 investigations of the Bush administration.

"We really ought to be asking why this Democrat leadership won't allow Congress to move forward on serious policy debates," Mr. Kyl said, when asked about the talking-points memorandum he is circulating.

"Americans have been disappointed by a majority leadership that stages one show debate after another, while the only consistent legislative work getting done is the renaming of post offices."

The document, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times, criticizes Mr. Reid for letting legislative priorities languish, including the drop of the Defense Department budget authorization bill — which would have approved funds for equipment and troops' pay increases — after Republicans last week blocked an amendment that set a spring deadline for a pullout.

more...

[rodeodance]

1. and there are idiots who will believe them/him.

[BOSSHOG]

2. "Obtained by the Washington Times"

"All talk, no action." Nice spin punks, you don't want the action Harry wants; ergo your constant political theatre (and may I add with pretty pathetic actors.) Harry ensuring no more fascist judges get appointed? Good. Only 300 investigations into the crime family? Gosh kyl that should be good news to you.

[TwilightGardener]

3. Obstruct, and then blame the opposing party for obstructing.

GOP standard operating procedure--lie through your teeth and hope it catches on with ordinary citizens. Kyl is just trying to get Arizona conservatives off his back for his immigration bill. Time to attack the GOPer's favorite whipping boy and get some favorable coverage on Limbaugh!

[blondeatlast]

4. I loathe Kyl. I'm so sorry that my state is responsible for this wretch.

He's sleazy, his office is downright rude, and he's the leading Senate neocon.

I'm so very sorry. :puke:

[babylonsister]

6. I thought of you when I saw his name, but it's really not your fault! nt

[blondeatlast]

9. He just gets to me on a visceral level. Can't think, just react.

I was monitoring the thread about the DoJ hearings--he was all with Gonzo about the NBA scandal and internet gampbling--and damn if Gonzo wasn't chatty with him.

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I had to get that out...

[rodeodance]

7. i believe Kyle is hold a nominee also (per Feingold)

[Nunyabiz]

5. Good, they should

Maybe something will start a fire under these worthless democrats so they will finally do something.
Right now they are a total embarrassment

[babylonsister]

8. No, they're not. And if anyone should chastise them, it shouldn't

be a rethug. Maybe you're on the wrong board?:eyes:

[ComerPerro]

59. no kidding

[emulatorloo]

11. Watch CSPAN-- Dems put forth decent legislation, REPUGS put forth TALKING POINTS

Kyl is a jackass liar -- he is blaming Democrats for the bullshit republicans are putting forth.

[Nunyabiz]

15. Oh wow my mistake...I wasn't aware that we were pulling out

of Iraq, the patriot act was abolished, the military commissions act abolished, and that the democrats finally accepted that both 2000 & 04' elections were stolen and have gotten rid of all the electronic vote stealing machines.
and when did they start Impeachment proceedings?

[emulatorloo]

27. that's a hell of a list you got there -- as to pulling out of IRAQ Dems introduce

legislation, Repugs block it with silly parliamentary challenges.

As to the other issues, I think you will find more Dems on your side -- the Vile Kyl is not for any of those.

[Nunyabiz]

31. wake up

The dems could have stopped this occupation many months ago but refuse to do so because they are scared of Faux Noise & the lies of the rethuglicans that would blame them for everything. Sadly the rethugs are doing that anyway, always have, always will so they need to WTFU and do what is right.

[emulatorloo]

34. I am wide awake -- American public does not support defunding . . . yet

I think the Dems are trying to move it that way. Reid certainly last week. There will be a point soon when public realizes it -- dems are moving them that way, as far as I can tell.

When Kyl talks of "serious policy debates" it is the same old crap they have been pushing -- flag burning, banning spanish, internet gambling, etc. Anything to distract from how horrible Bush and the republicans are. I am having none of that.

[Nunyabiz]

38. Like hell they don't

anyone that doesn't is a fool, the dems need to take charge and do what is right not what a small percentage of brainwashed idiots think. What we need right are STATESMEN not Politicians.

[emulatorloo]

42. Show me the poll that says american public is in favor of defunding

EOM

[Nunyabiz]

44. sure thing

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/apr/11/poll_more_americans_favor_congress_withholding_funds_in_face_of_veto

[emulatorloo]

46. you got me all excited -- but that is not defunding the war --

that is merely withholding funds as a leverage to get bush to sign legislation. Once he signs he gets the money.

Thats different than defunding the war.

[Nunyabiz]

55. not sure how you get that

"should Congress refuse to pass any funding bill until Bush agrees to accept conditions for withdrawal?

Fund the war without conditions: 43%
Withhold funding until Bush signs: 45%

Seems pretty clear to me

[emulatorloo]

65. Passing a Funding Bill = FUNDING. In other words, bush agrees to conditions, he gets funding

OTOH Defunding means Stopping Funding for the War. W/O conditions.

[Virginia Dare]

67. Withhold funding, not the same as defunding..

Kucinich says not a penny more for the war. The American public is NOT in favor of that approach to ending the war. Harry Reid says he will withhold funds until Bush agrees to conditions for withdrawal. This is what that poll was asking.

[Nunyabiz]

73. LOL no money is no money, means the same thing

and Kucinich is absolutely correct on all counts.

[LanternWaste]

77. I heard approximately the same thing...

I heard approximately the same thing re: the Democrats in Congress in '73.

But I'm sure that your timetable is valid, reviewed, absolute and without err.... :eyes:

[TwilightGardener]

14. Worthless Democrats? Total embarrassment?

Good idea for Repubs to make shit up and get away with it? Freeperville's over there, pal.

[Nunyabiz]

19. I'm just stating fact

They could stop this damn occupation today if they wanted to and could start Impeachment of the worst resident in American history yet they do nothing.
Yeah I'm embarrassed.

[blondeatlast]

21. Do tell then--how can they stop the occupation?

Tell us, oh wise one--or is that too, nonourbiz? :eyes:

[Nunyabiz]

25. Simple, stop funding it

all they needed to do is NOTHING, they never needed to even present a spending bill just ignore it. Caligula cant veto what doesn't exist.

[blondeatlast]

29. DPay attention--that's what Reid is planning, but keep telling yourself

they are worthless.

Slept through last week, didya?

[Nunyabiz]

33. don't have the slightest idea what you just said

[TwilightGardener]

32. It's that simple. Yep. No other considerations enter into the sudden defunding equation--

just cut off the money, and the troops all will come home safely next week, and the Iraqis will suddenly get along, and everyone will cheer the Democrats for this brilliant maneuver, and the world will be marshmallows and sunshine again. That's five-year-old thinking. Thank God that sentiment doesn't prevail in Congress.

[Nunyabiz]

39. what we have are nothing but bad choices here

but staying for another freaking 10 years is obviously the WORST of the bad choices.
What Iraq does when we leave is up to Iraq, it is going to be a quagmire no matter what BECAUSE WE MADE IT ONE!
and the longer we stay the worse it gets.

What would you do? Stay another year? why? what good would it do to stay and make matters far worse spending 10s of Billions and murdering 10s 1000s of more innocent Iraqi's and American soldiers for what? a bald face lie from a neofascist nutbag?

get a grip

[TwilightGardener]

41. YOU get a grip--you're siding with Republicans on a Democratic forum.

[Nunyabiz]

45. that is how you misinterpret it yes

I merely said good let them smear them some more so maybe they will finally get mad enough to do something.
Because apparently the majority of the American public demanding Impeachment & ending the war isn't working.

[Virginia Dare]

48. Right, there's not enough smearing going on..

that's the problem, clearly, political genius you are...:eyes:

[Nunyabiz]

49. No actually there is nothing BUT smearing going on

because that is ALL the rethuglicans got.
I'm just stating fact, you may deny those facts all you wish as is your right.
I'm just hoping that the democrats finally grow a pair and strike back instead of all this namby pamby crap.

[Virginia Dare]

47. So, they simply do nothing and Bush suddenly gets an epiphany..

and calls all the troops home tomorrow. Wow, fucking brilliant! :eyes:

[Nunyabiz]

50. there would be no money, so yes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GW6j5DTgpY

[Virginia Dare]

53. So, that would force Bush to end the war, exactly how?

that argument is pure fallacy. Holding up funding can certainly be used as a tool, but as a vehicle to end the war, no.

[Nunyabiz]

54. So then Kucinich has no idea what he is talking about?

and is putting forth a pure fallacy? Without funding the occupation ends, it really is that simple I'm afraid.

[Virginia Dare]

61. I don't agree with Kucinich on this point, you're correct..

and in truth, the only reason he keeps putting this idea forth, in my opinion, is to set himself apart from the rest of the candidates.

[Nunyabiz]

74. This has been Kucinich's point since before the war

He puts this idea forth because he truly believes it to be correct action to take, so do I.

[ComerPerro]

60. apparently the poster believes that Bush wouldn't keep troops in harms way without funding

just to prove a political point.

[Virginia Dare]

62. Well, this is the crux of the issue..

this theory is predicated on the fact that Bush will eventually see reason, and I have yet to see any evidence that he would.

[ComerPerro]

63. and that Bush actually values human life, and the lives of our soldiers

[Nunyabiz]

75. I wouldn't doubt it one bit, but that would just make it that much worse

for King George the W and hopefully just one more reason to Impeach his treasonous ass.

[TwilightGardener]

26. Cheering on Republicans in their quest to further block our legislation

is about the stupidest position to take, at least on DU. You want to be all "hard-core" by embracing Republican smears, tactics and lies to bludgeon Dems into submission, then don't expect too many people to back you up here.

[Nunyabiz]

28. well maybe something will wake these damn democrats up

I could not care less if any of you back me, I simply said good, let them smear them because maybe just freaking maybe it might get these damn democrats mad enough to finally DO SOMETHING!

Why that is a problem I have no idea nor do I care.

[TwilightGardener]

40. Yes, they're doing NOTHING! I can't believe all the troops aren't

home after six months of a razor-thin Dem majority! All that legislation I read about that gets nowhere, all the war-ending resolutions that can't get passed because of Republican Senators--it's the Democrats' fault! You're right, the Republicans ARE the true heroes here, they're just using "tough love" to force us to defund. And then the love will get even tougher when the public blames Democrats for the inevitable mishaps, calamities, and bloodshed that results--the way Dems are still getting blamed for ending Vietnam. God bless the GOPers! They are ending this war!

[Nunyabiz]

43. apparently you don't have the slightest idea of what you are talking about

and making yourself look foolish.
Allow me to let Kucinich tell you what to do and how to do it and you can call him a liar and a freeper also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GW6j5DTgpY

[TwilightGardener]

56. LOL! Magical Thinker says I have no idea what I'm talking about!

Kucinich ain't my candidate--for good reason.

[Nunyabiz]

57. /ignore

[blondeatlast]

17. So you are supporting John Kyl, I take it? nt

[Nunyabiz]

22. Where they hell do you get that from?

I would gleefully throw Kyl under several buses if I could, same with every single rethuglican congress critter and at least 1/2 the democrats right now for that matter.
Most all of them from BOTH sides are kowtowing to the top 2% while screwing the other 98%.
I expect that from the complete insane Rethuglicans not the democrats.

[blondeatlast]

30. "Good, they should." Direct quote. You supported what Kyl is doing.

There's still time to edit since several of us have called you on the BS.

[Nunyabiz]

35. you are making a mountain out a molehill

you need to get over yourself.
I do not support ANY rethuglican period, but as usual if they are going to attack and smear which is really ALL they have, the rethugs don't have the high ground on ANY issue all they do is LIE LIE LIE LIE.
I just have hopes that sooner or later these spineless democrats will grow a single ball between them all and finally stop this madness.
You can misinterpret my meaning all you wish.

[emulatorloo]

10. Typical Republican Projection -- Blame others for what you yourself are doing

They do this all the time.

--

"We really ought to be asking why this Democrat leadership won't allow Congress to move forward on serious policy debates," Mr. Kyl said, when asked about the talking-points memorandum he is circulating.

--

All you have to do is watch CSPAN -- Dems propose legislation, Repub spew talking points and mount silly parliamentary challenges. All in the service of protecting Bush.

[bigtree]

12. what they want 'action' on

doesn't have much of an audience to play to

[bdamomma]

13. their the ones repigs who block everything what a bunch of fuckheads

the Dems are the majority but these repigs have so much venom in them, they need to be crushed. Anyone of them who is up for re election should not be re elected again, they do not know how to govern, and keep protecting these neo cons they will take you right over the cliff.

[gratuitous]

16. How about an upperdown vote, Mr. Kyl?

Why don't the Republicans in the Senate allow an up or down vote on funding the Iraq occupation? Why don't they allow an up or down vote on a schedule for troop withdrawal? It doesn't surprise me in the least that the Moon-controlled Washington Times (funded as it is by slave labor) would bite on this nonsense. But now that it's out there in the ether, watch some actual news organizations who should and do know better to parrot this odious talking point.

[TwilightGardener]

18. Isn't Kyl the one who has been putting "holds" on legislation?

Not sure you can be a more brazen hypocrite than that.

[blondeatlast]

20. Yep--he's my Senator and as sleazy a bastard as Tom DeLay and probably

just as corrupt.

[Snotcicles]

23. I have one thing to say

BILL FRIST
That will snap everybody back to reality.

[in_cog_ni_to]

24. BIG MISTAKE. I hope they didn't have an August vacation planned. If they did, they better cancel it

now.

The people rate Congress so low because of the REPUKES who have blocked everything the Dems have tried to do. NORMAL people aren't as stupid as Kyl's supporters are...

[babylonsister]

36. Chickenshits are supposed to be doing this during summer recess

so they will already be gone.

[in_cog_ni_to]

51. Not anymore...the memo has been leaked. Now Harry can stay in session through August!

Calling their bluff.:7

[Jersey Devil]

37. Good trick, but that's for wingnut home constituents only

The wingnut congressmen have to go home to fire up their base during the August recess.

[Strawman]

52. Let them eat Luntzian spin says John Kyl

Sorry dude, repeating the phrase "Democrat leadership" isn't going to work.

[ComerPerro]

58. meanwhile these fucksticks had Congress AND the White House for four years

and didn't get jack shit accomplished

[Exiled in America]

64. I agree with the Republicans, and you know how much that makes me crazy!

[emulatorloo]

66. So you miss all those great discussions about flag burning, English as the Official Language

and all those other "important" issues republicans are so fond of?

Make no mistake, Kyl etc do not want to discuss the real issues.

[Exiled in America]

69. Of course not, but their criticism of democratic leadership is my criticism verbatim.

I "get" that you may disagree. That's great. In America, for the time being, that's one of the wonderful rights we still enjoy. :)

[Virginia Dare]

68. I'm sure you don't agree that they should have voted..

for the Defense Authorization bill to pass, which is what Kyl is saying?:shrug:

[Exiled in America]

70. This is what they did:

The had a chance to create clear and concrete conditions for getting us out of Iraq or end funding of this illegal war. Instead, they caved in like spineless cowards, removed the only condition of the authorization that reflected genuine courage and leadership, betrayed the American public that voted for them, voted for the worthless version of the authorization (many, many kudos to the democrats who voted against it) and then went and held press conferences to declare their "great victory."

There is a reason why congresional approval ratings are at historic lows, and its not because they've been kicking so much ass up there. :(

[Spearman87]

76. I understand how you feel. I will say this

I think they perceive a delicate tightrope they must walk. You still see polls that indicate the Dems must show great care in how they handle disengagement from Iraq. As much as a lot of people wanted to interpret Nov. 2006 as a blanket mandate to withdraw from Iraq, polls indicated it was more complex than that. Some of it was people not necessarily wanting an immediate withdrawal, but at least wanting to see a concrete change of strategy by the administration ( since Rumfeld's was obviously failing). With time and patience, you may yet see all you hoped for come to fruition. It's slow going, but the Dems are making progress and continue to gain new Rep defectors.

[Blue_In_AK]

71. Oh, there it is again

"Democrat leadership." IC, you fool. DemocratIC.

[R_M]

72. With the filibuster rule, how can Reid get around the...

GOP's obstruction? :shrug: