Post by unlawflcombatnt on Jul 20, 2007 15:23:47 GMT -6
The recent "all-nighter" by the Senate was touted as an attempt to "change-the-course" in Iraq.
However, the big picture was deliberately obscured by the media and the Corporate elite, as well as by Democrats. The fact that this is over the entire Defense Appropriations bill has been deliberately obfuscated.
To clarify, the issue at hand is whether to pass the $648 billion Defense appropriation bill.
The Dems have the power to completely block all Defense Dept. funding if they don't get the policy they want. The Dems have ALL the power needed to block the bill, as they have a majority in the Senate and in Congress. It only takes a simple majority to block a spending bill.
If Bush wants to fund the Defense Department's $648 billion budget, he has to get the approval of Congress and the Senate, which are both controlled by Democrats.
As such, Democrats can absolutely MANDATE what Bush must do to get that funding. Clearly Dems can refuse to fund the Defense Dept. if they don't like Bush's policies, or how Bush wants to spend the money.
Again, the Dems have ANOTHER chance to end the Iraq War immediately.
Will they cower and cave-in again, whining about how "we don't have the votes"? They DO have the votes to cut off spending, just like they did before their cowardly cave-in on the previous Supplemental Appropriations Bill.
There's no excuse this time. Democrats can shut the entire Defense Dept. down if Bush doesn't go along with Dems' demands.
Once again, ending the Iraq War is in the hands of the Democrats. Bush has to come to Congress, hat-in-hand, and beg for appropriations. If Congress doesn't like Bush's offer, they can refuse funding. They can refuse to give Bush any of the $648 billion Defense Appropriations he requests.
If Bush won't accept Democrats' demands, it's Bush who is cutting off the funds, and it's Bush who is "not supporting the troops."
A showdown with Bush is long overdue. In this case, Dems have ALL the control, and NO excuses whatsoever.
If Bush won't go along with Congress's demands, deny him the $648 billion Defense appropriations requested. It's as simple as "just saying no."
Will the Democrats do the right thing and refuse Defense funding until Bush acquiesces to their demands? Or will they cave-in cowardly, as they did before, and regurgitate the "we-don't-have-enough-votes" lie that they used before?
My guess is they'll do the latter. But I'd love to be proven wrong on this one.
However, the big picture was deliberately obscured by the media and the Corporate elite, as well as by Democrats. The fact that this is over the entire Defense Appropriations bill has been deliberately obfuscated.
To clarify, the issue at hand is whether to pass the $648 billion Defense appropriation bill.
The Dems have the power to completely block all Defense Dept. funding if they don't get the policy they want. The Dems have ALL the power needed to block the bill, as they have a majority in the Senate and in Congress. It only takes a simple majority to block a spending bill.
If Bush wants to fund the Defense Department's $648 billion budget, he has to get the approval of Congress and the Senate, which are both controlled by Democrats.
As such, Democrats can absolutely MANDATE what Bush must do to get that funding. Clearly Dems can refuse to fund the Defense Dept. if they don't like Bush's policies, or how Bush wants to spend the money.
Again, the Dems have ANOTHER chance to end the Iraq War immediately.
Will they cower and cave-in again, whining about how "we don't have the votes"? They DO have the votes to cut off spending, just like they did before their cowardly cave-in on the previous Supplemental Appropriations Bill.
There's no excuse this time. Democrats can shut the entire Defense Dept. down if Bush doesn't go along with Dems' demands.
Once again, ending the Iraq War is in the hands of the Democrats. Bush has to come to Congress, hat-in-hand, and beg for appropriations. If Congress doesn't like Bush's offer, they can refuse funding. They can refuse to give Bush any of the $648 billion Defense Appropriations he requests.
If Bush won't accept Democrats' demands, it's Bush who is cutting off the funds, and it's Bush who is "not supporting the troops."
A showdown with Bush is long overdue. In this case, Dems have ALL the control, and NO excuses whatsoever.
If Bush won't go along with Congress's demands, deny him the $648 billion Defense appropriations requested. It's as simple as "just saying no."
Will the Democrats do the right thing and refuse Defense funding until Bush acquiesces to their demands? Or will they cave-in cowardly, as they did before, and regurgitate the "we-don't-have-enough-votes" lie that they used before?
My guess is they'll do the latter. But I'd love to be proven wrong on this one.