Reid played the “really did not expect” card, you know, like, “I was amazed,” “I was surprised.” Either he is thoroughly naive or he is playing a tactical game. Perhaps both is true.

We know the truth about Bush, even if Reid acts as if this president actually has credibility.

One message to Reid and Pelosi. Impeach. You want me to spell it for you?

Nothing short of impeachment will stop this war.

Comment by RUCerious — May 18, 2007 @ 2:26 pm

Or mass extinction.

Given the choice, which do you think Bush would prefer?

The Democrats should pass this bill, watch The Decider veto it, and make a major media case over the issue. There isn’t a good excuse Bush can use for casting a veto on this measure. The bill they discussed today is void of the pork Bush tried to whine about in the last bill we sent up. The bill they discussed today has waiveable timelines (which actually kinda pisses me off)… but it lets the Decider be The Decider. What spin could they possibly put on this veto that would make it seem even slightly justified?

All the Democrats would have to do is say, “we compromised – this BIPARTISAN bill has no pork, it gives our troops a raise, and it ensures they are better protected while giving the President the authority to waive the timeline. There is no reasonable explanation for his veto.” Shout it from the rooftops.

He wants to veto legislation the Democratic congress presents him. He wants to be in control. Okay, call his bluff – put him on the defensive, send him reasonable bills and let him try to explain his vetoes again and again. There’s no way the Republican party can claim the Democrats are not funding the troops – this is a bipartisan effort that the President is rejecting.

This puts a bigger wedge between reasonable, realistic Republicans and the President.

It puts a bigger wedge between Republican congressional members who are worried about re-election and the President.

I can’t see any reason why they don’t just force the President’s hand. Every time this President turns his back on our soldiers and the will of the American people, force him to explain his actions.

> Actually, I kinda agree with you, CONservative. -Exley

gosh Exley, welcome to the reality the rest of us share. I always said you were more deluded than simply a dumb@ss, and hopefully you will at some point realize what an unreasonable, pigheaded jack@ss the guy you’ve been supporting is. I wasnt even political until this idiot came into office and showed me exactly how much of a moron could be put in charge of things when the american populace is asleep at the wheel.

And Bush said no.

Bush’s idea of compromise and bipartisanship is, “Give me everything I want with no strings and no accountability.” Sounds a lot like a dictator to me.

So, now the Democrats know that Bush will settle for nothing less than total capitulation. Will they give in and continue to fund Bush’s War ad infinitum?

Or, will they finally realize that they are dealing with a runaway President whose only constraint is impeachment and removal from office?

One again, since the President is unwilling to budge, I say, DON’T SEND HIM ANOTHER BILL. LET HIS VETO STAND. BUSH VETOED THE FUNDING; HE VETOED HIS WAR.

Concessions already. Wimps!!!

There are even higher costs to this continual pursuit of a failed policy than are normally discussed. It takes attention and funding away from issues that are of critical importance.

For example, the fight against global poverty. The Borgen Project estimates that it would take $19 billion annually to end hunger and malnutrition world wide. And the UN has established a set of Millennium Development Goals which seek to eliminate global poverty by 2025, but political support in the US is lacking. Imagine if the billions of dollars spent on the war in Iraq so far had been directed towards giving people the ability to feed their families, access to clean water and healthcare, and a basic education.

These missed opportunities for making a real difference in the world are another high cost of the war in Iraq.

It is a terrible feeling to realize that despite citizen’s best efforts to make a change, the administration that is supposed to be representing them has no intention of changing its ways.

Comment by BlueArkansas — May 18, 2007 @ 2:23 pm

A good start.

Might I add that they should be telling all of the media outlets that they support the troops so much that are going to stand firm on getting them out of harm’s way this year!

And that they support the security of this country so much that they want to avoid overtaxing the military any further!

That they support the health of this country so much that they will stop funding an unsuccessful war and stop draining the treasury.

They should make sure that it’s clear to any that haven’t already realized it themselves that the Bush administration has threatened the security of this country and has damaged the readiness of the troops with their actions and their intractable stance.

The Democrats need to go on the offense in a big way!

Mr Bush how many people have to die